Keep your pets safe from heartworm
Hello readers.
Did you know that over one million pets in the U.S. have heartworm? Yes, you read that correctly, over a million. Heartworm can cause significant and lasting damage to the lungs, heart and arteries of your dog or cat. This affects your pet’s quality of life, even after the parasites are gone.
Signs of infection include persistent coughing, fatigue, reluctance to exercise, decreased appetite and weight loss. While heartworm is much more common in dogs, cats can get it as well. Fortunately, cats are not a natural hosts for heartworm and most worms cannot survive until the adult stage.
If your dog tests positive, there is hope. Treatment is available. However, it is not cheap. Your veterinarian will discuss the treatment procedures and steps with you, and calculate the cost based on the weight of your dog and severity of the case. Not every case is the same, so prices will vary. You can safely assume that heartworm treatment will cost between $600 and $1,200. Cats cannot be treated for heartworm as dogs are, so prevention is your only option.
What is the best way to keep your dog or cat healthy and safe? PREVENTION. Yearly testing and year-round heartworm preventative medication is not only affordable, but may just extend the life of your beloved family pet. There are many options for preventative medication. Discuss your options with your veterinarian’s office, and they can find the perfect fit for you and your pet.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – Benjamin Franklin
Happy Spring!
Cindy Anderson, DVM
Dr. Cindy Anderson is a graduate of MSU Veterinary College (1992) and has practiced veterinary medicine for over 28 years. She traveled to Italy, New Zealand and Manitoba before establishing her own clinic in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Dr. Cindy took over duties at the Animal Care Clinic in October 2019 and now spends the majority of her time in the Lower Peninsula helping animals and their owners.
