Heartworm is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease affecting our companion animals and reported cases are increasing in the Portland area. Dogs are the natural hosts for the parasite allowing for larval stages to grow, mature and reproduce inside the vessels and organs. Adult female heartworms can thrive and produce baby worms in the bodies’ of dogs, fox, coyotes, and wolves. Heartworms are transmitted from animal to animal when mosquitoes bite an infected host, picking up the baby worms during the blood meal. Heartworm develops into an infective stage within the mosquito over a two week period; then when biting another dog, cat or susceptible wild animal, they transmit the larvae and the cycle begins again. Heartworms take up to 6 months to mature and can live for up to 7 years in a viable host causing blood vessel damage and eventual heart failure. A treatment is available for the disease, but prevention is the only way to ensure no long-lasting damage or harm to our pets.
Administering monthly oral or topical heartworm preventative medication year-round is your pet’s best defense against heartworm, and annual heartworm tests verify that the medication is working. We have many different types of heartworm preventatives available at Northwest Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital, and your veterinarian can help you decide which one is the best option for your best friend.
Enjoy $10 off Heartworm prevention through April and May!