If you’re a dog owner, chances are your vet has warned you about the dangerous effects of heartworm disease in pets: lung disease, heart failure, organ damage or even death. So what can you do to help your furry friend avoid this disease?
- Give your dog a preventative medication all year round. There are a variety of medications that will safely shield your pet from heartworms, all of which must be prescribed by your veterinarian. These include oral tablets and injections. Talk to your vet to find out which treatment is best for your dog.
- Have your dog tested for heartworms on occasion. For most dogs, annual heartworm testing is sufficient. However, additional testing may be needed if your dog has traveled to an area where heartworm is more common or if your dog’s preventative medication has been switched. In addition, you should always have your dog tested before you start it on a prevention routine. Doing so is essential because heartworm preventatives can have highly negative effects on dogs that already have the disease.
- Be on the lookout for symptoms of heartworm disease in your dog. The four stages of heartworm disease are characterized by different symptoms. During Class 1, your dog may have mild symptoms like a cough or may show no symptoms at all. In Class 2, mild to moderate symptoms such as increased tiredness may occur. Once the disease progresses to Class 3, your dog will exhibit a persistent cough, extreme tiredness after being active and trouble breathing. Class 4 occurs when a dog’s blood flow is blocked by worms. To save the dog’s life, surgery is usually the only option.
- Seek treatment right away if your dog is showing symptoms. The options for heartworm treatment in the U.S. vary. Immiticide is a drug that can treat dogs with class 1, 2 or 3 heartworm disease by being injected into the back muscles. Another option is Advantage Multi for Dogs, which works to destroy the microfilariae caused by heartworms. Both drugs are approved by the FDA.
By following these steps, you’ll greatly decrease your dog’s risk of contracting and being debilitated by heartworm disease.
Keep Your Pooch Happy & Healthy with Our Manayunk Dog Walker
In addition to making sure he’s free of disease, it’s important to give your pet plenty of exercise. Don’t have time to do so yourself? Hire Top Tails Dog Walking & Pet Sitting, the #1 dog walker in Manayunk!
Whether you’ll be out of the house for a few hours or a whole week, we promise our trained staff will keep your pets satisfied while you’re away. In addition to being the top-rated Manayunk dog walker, we also care for cats, birds, fish and other pets!
To learn more about us, visit our website now or call 215-508-1903. In addition, be sure to check out our blog for advice on how to keep your pets safe in the winter and how to take care of their teeth. We look forward to showing you why we’re the dog walker Manayunk pet owners love!