An overview on pet ownership...
We highly recommend checking your dog for heartworm infection every year.
Heartworms are very deadly parasites that are transmitted to dogs by mosquito bites. We routinely diagnose heartworm infection in dogs, all year round. Signs of heartworm disease include collapse, sudden death, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, difficulty breathing, coughing, lack of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy.
Dogs develop a heartworm infection by being bitten by a mosquito carrying the parasite, and can become infected with heartworms at any age.
In order to test your dog for heartworm disease, we obtain a small blood sample and run a 10 minute test in our lab. Fast results mean sooner treatment if your dog is positive for heartworm. If you are concerned because your dog has not been on heartworm preventative and has not been tested, please call us to schedule an appointment.
To prevent heartworm disease in your dog, you must give a heartworm preventative every 30 days year round.
Below is a diagram that shows how your dog can become infected with heartworms.
