A Tiny Bite, A Big Problem: Protecting Pets From Heartworm Disease
Did you know one mosquito bite could put your pet’s heart at risk?
Mosquitoes might seem like nothing more than a summer nuisance, but to your pet, one bite can be life-altering. Heartworm Disease is a serious – and sometimes fatal – condition that infects the lungs, heart, and surrounding blood vessels. At Silver Sands Veterinary, we want to help you protect your furry friend before trouble takes root.
So… What Are Heartworms?
Heartworms ( Dirofilaria immitis ) are parasitic worms that live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected animals. They grow up to 12 inches long and live for 5-7 years in dogs and 2-3 years in cats. Yikes.
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- Dogs are natural hosts, meaning heartworms can mature, reproduce, and multiply in their bodies. In severe cases, dogs can harbor hundreds of worms.
- Cats are atypical hosts. Most worms never reach adulthood, but immature worms can still cause major inflammation and lung damage. This leads to Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD). Even a single worm can be deadly – and there is no approved treatment for heartworm in cats.
How Do Pets Get Infected?
The heartworm life cycle is a mosquito-powered relay race:
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- A mosquito bites an infected animal (like a dog, fox, or coyote), picking up microscopic baby worms called microfilariae.
- Inside the mosquito, the microfilariae develop over 10-14 days into the infective larval stage.
- The mosquito bites your pet, depositing larvae through the bite wound.
- Inside your pet’s body, the larvae migrate to the heart and lungs over a period of 6 months , maturing into adult heartworms.
Once established, these worms can live for years, silently damaging organs and blood vessels.
When the Heart Starts to Struggle: Symptoms
Heartworm Disease is sneaky. In the early stages, most dogs appear healthy. But as the worms grow, so do the problems.
Signs in dogs include:
- Persistent, mild cough.
- Reluctance to exercise.
- Lethargy.
- Decreased appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Swollen abdomen due to fluid accumulation.
In extreme cases, dogs can develop Caval Syndrome – a sudden blockage of blood flow to the heart, leading to collapse and often death if emergency surgery isn’t performed.
Signs in cats include:
- Coughing or wheezing.
- Vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Sudden collapse or even sudden death.
Diagnosis: What’s Lurking Beneath the Fur?
At Silver Sands Veterinary, we recommend annual testing for both dogs and cats , regardless of whether they’re on preventatives. Why? Because even a missed or late dose can leave a window of vulnerability.
Here’s how we test:
- We perform a 4DX Test (Heartworm + 3 tick-borne diseases: Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma) during your pet’s wellness visit.
- We also screen for microfilariae , the baby heatworms that circulate in the blood - at no extra cost.
- Results are typically available within 1-2 days.
Testing guidelines:
- Puppies < 7 months: Can start preventatives right away but need a follow-up test 6 months later.
- Adult dogs: Need yearly tests to continue preventatives. If doses have been skipped or delayed, they’ll need a test now and again in 6 months.
- Cats: there’s no easy test or treatment, which is why prevention is absolutely essential - even if a cat is indoors only!
What If My Dog Tests Positive?
First, don’t panic – but do take it seriously. Treating Heartworm Disease is a long process, but we’ll guide you every step of the way.
Treatment protocol includes:
- Confirm the diagnosis with a second test before beginning treatment.
- Restrict activity – the more your pet moves, the more damage the worms can cause.
- Stabilize the disease with medications like steroids, antibiotics, or heart support drugs.
- Administer adulticide therapy following guidelines from The American Heartworm Society .
- Recheck after 6 months to confirm the worms are gone.
Treatment is rough – and costly. But the good news? It’s almost entirely preventable.
Prevention: One Little Pill, One Big Win
Monthly preventatives are the easiest way to block infection. At Silver Sands Veterinary, we recommend:
For dogs:
- NexGard Plus (1 monthly chew for fleas, ticks, heartworms, and some intestinal parasites).
- NexGard + Heartgard (2 tasty chews for full-spectrum protection).
For cats:
- NexGard Combo (topical protection against heartworms, fleas, ticks, and parasites).
- Revolution Plus (broad-spectrum topical with added protection for ear mites).
If you’re unsure which option is best, we’re happy to help you choose based on your pet’s needs and lifestyle.
Protect Their Heart Before It’s Too Late
At the end of the day, your pet trusts you with everything – from dinner time to nap time to their very heartbeat. Let’s not break that trust.
Heartworm Disease is dangerous, expensive to treat, and often silent – until it’s too late. But with a quick test, a chewable, or a drop on the back of the neck, you can block the bite and stop the disease in its tracks.
Call Silver Sands Veterinary today to schedule a heartworm test, refill your preventatives, or talk with Dr. DeForge about your options. Because protecting their heart is just one more way to show how much you love them.