Summer Pests and the Importance of Preventatives

Summer is upon us and in full swing. With the scorching heat and all of the rain in 2024, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks are flourishing. Preventatives are key to keeping your best friend happy and healthy. Over the years Speak! has treated many heartworm-positive dogs. Many people don’t realize their friend may be infected with this disease until it is too late. However, heartworm can be prevented with just a single preventative once a month. The preventatives are inexpensive, as low as $6/month, and can be purchased through your vet or with a prescription online. Most of the preventatives come with a guarantee that if your pup is infected, they will pay for treatment. Not treating your best friend can lead to very costly bills for treatment, some ranging over $1,000.

Understanding Heartworm: Dirofilaria immitis

Dirofilaria immitis, or heartworm, is a parasite that comes from mosquitoes. The mosquito will bite an infected host and then bite another animal that is not protected from the parasite. Even in colder winter months, mosquitoes are still around and can infect your pup. For this reason, it is important to give preventatives all year round for heartworm. It is not contagious from animal to animal directly, aside from the mosquito bite.

The Harsh Reality of Heartworm Treatment

For those who don’t know what these pups are about to endure, here is an outline. First, they must be checked for the health of their organs to determine if they can handle the heartworm treatment. Next, if they are strong enough, a veterinarian will make a treatment plan that can last anywhere from 2 to 10 months. The treatments range from topical medicine to painful injections that go deep within the muscles of the affected animal. These treatments are toxic to both the parasite and the dog and are often compared to chemotherapy in humans. It makes the dog sick, nauseated, and just overall feeling bad. During this treatment time, the dog has to have no strenuous activity. So instead of being able to play and run, they are confined to crates and MUST be kept calm for the entire length of treatment. This is both stressful for the dog and the owner. Failure to keep the pet calm, as the pieces of heartworm break up, can cause a blood clot in the lungs, potentially taking the life of the pet.

The Importance of Heartworm Prevention

It is sad for those of us who see heartworm cases over and over again. Remember, heartworm prevention medicine is so important to keep your best friend safe!

More information can be found at the American Heartworm Society:https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources

*Note: This is informational only, please consult your veterinarian for the proper types of preventatives suited best for your pet.

Chick Pea, a current Speak! foster and heartworm survivor, is still looking for her happy ever after home! Learn more about Chick Pea here:  

https://www.petfinder.com/dog/chick-pea-57527829/oh/grove-city/speak-for-the-unspoken-oh1024/