by Jessica Mann
The other day, as I was struggling to get inside, my arms loaded down with groceries, a single mosquito flew into my apartment and landed squarely on my dog’s head. I didn’t notice this at first until I had dumped all my bags on the counter and happened to look down where I saw the winged nuisance happily flitting around on her head. If the mosquito had been anywhere else, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but the fact that it had perched right on top of my dog was cause for concern. Why? Because mosquitoes carry heartworms.
Lucky for me, my dog is on a monthly heartworm preventative, so the risk of her being infected with heartworms is very low. However, for those dogs and cats that aren’t protected, even one encounter with a mosquito can prove to be fatal.
How can one small insect carry such a big disease? It’s quite simple. A mosquito bites a cat or dog that is infected with heartworms then that mosquito
flies around until they find another host (cat or dog) to feed on. She will then bite that host, infecting them with heartworms in the process. Once the dog or cat has been infected, the heartworm larvae navigate through the body moving through tissue and blood vessels as they mature. Finally, the adult heartworms begin breeding and releasing larvae back into the bloodstream of the host. This entire process takes six months or longer, which means that a heartworm test performed in the interim could come back negative even though heartworm larvae are living in the host.
If this isn’t scary enough, consider this: heartworms are a threat to our pets all year long. We typically think of mosquitoes as strictly warm weather annoyances, but that’s no longer the case. Urban areas, buildings, and construction areas, for example, all combine to create microclimates. These are small pockets within larger areas that have different climates than that of the surrounding area. For instance, building materials, like brick and concrete, absorb energy from the sun and then re-emit that heat back into the air creating small zones of warmth and humidity that are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and this can happen
even in the cooler months. Additionally, there are over 70 species of mosquito that can transmit heartworms. It is a common misconception that indoor-pets are not susceptible to heartworms; however, it’s important to note that many species of mosquitoes actually prefer indoor environments. So, if you’re like me and sometimes leave the door open a little too long, a rogue mosquito can easily find its way into your home and put your pets at risk.
By now you’re probably thoroughly spooked, but don’t fear! Heartworms are completely preventable. There are a wide variety of heartworm preventatives that can keep your pet safeguarded against these invasive parasites.
Heartworms can infect dogs and cats at any age, so it’s important to begin prevention early. Puppies that are under six months can be started on heartworm prevention without a heartworm test because it takes at least six months for dogs to test positive once they’ve been infected. Once they reach six months of age, they must be tested for heartworms before beginning a preventative. If their test is negative, they can begin taking a monthly heartworm preventative. Dogs that are over six months of age that have not previously been on any type of heartworm preventative must be tested for heartworms before beginning heartworm prevention. For all dogs, a heartworm test will need to be repeated annually to ensure that they remain heartworm free.
Feline heartworm prevention protocol is slightly different than dogs. While there are tests and preventatives available, there is no actual course of treatment should a cat test positive for heartworms. If a dog is diagnosed with heartworms, there are several treatment options available. Unfortunately, the treatments are very expensive (often exceeding $1,000), painful, and can often take over six months to fully clear the infection. With cats this isn’t the case, which makes monthly heartworm preventative that much more important. We recommend starting your kitten on a combination flea/heartworm preventative and continuing this practice every month for the duration of their life.
It’s not enough to know that your pet needs heartworm prevention, but you also have to choose which type and brand will work best for your pet. Luckily, between our in-house pharmacy and our online pharmacy, we offer topical and chewable versions of almost every brand. Topical heartworm preventatives are liquid medications that are applied to the back of your pet’s neck by parting the hair and administering the medication directly to the skin. Once applied, the medication will be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. Don’t worry; this doesn’t mean the medication is harming your pet. Once it’s in your pet’s bloodstream, it will protect them for an entire month. Chewable heartworm preventatives work in a similar fashion. Designed to look and taste like a treat, the chewable preventative is ingested and then absorbed into the bloodstream where it will protect your pet for a month. You should consider your pet’s individual disposition when deciding on a heartworm preventative. If it can be difficult to give your pet a pill, or if they don’t like treats very much, then a topical might be a better fit. But, if you don’t want to deal with a messy, wet spot on the back of your pet’s neck, then a chewable preventative would probably suit your needs better. If you still feel overwhelmed with all of your choices, then we would be happy to discuss your options with you and, together, we can find the best product for your pet. The best part is that heartworm prevention is affordable! Most manufacturers offer rebates on their products, which can reduce your monthly cost to about the same price as a Starbucks coffee.
Now, more than ever before, cats and dogs are not just pets; they’re family. We live our best lives with our four-legged friends by our side, and we want them to be around for a long time. It is our responsibility to keep them safe from all kinds of dangers, including the ones in our own backyard. With heartworm prevention, you’re ensuring that your best friend is safe and protected for years to come. Remember, mosquitoes may be inevitable, but heartworms are not.
About the Author:
Jessica Mann has worked as the Client Care Specialist at All Cats & Dogs Veterinary Hospital since 2009. Most days you can find her behind the front desk fielding phone calls and cuddling puppies and kittens. She is a recent graduate of WKU with a degree in English literature.
