Control Dog Heartworm With Tests And Preventative Medications

There are several methods that you can use to control dog heartworm. This disease is very serious, can be deadly, and is difficult to diagnose early. As a result, you should do whatever you can to be aware of the heartworm danger in your area.

If you live in a warmer climate, then it is more likely for heartworms to be common where you live. This is due to the fact that mosquitoes spread heartworms - so areas with high mosquito populations are going to have higher incidences of heartworm infections than other areas.

Healthy pets are less susceptible to heartworm disease.

The first step to controlling dog heartworm infections is to make sure that you have a healthy dog. You can do this by feeding your dog healthier dog foods and bringing it to the vet regularly. Your vet can also give your dog yearly heartworm tests to make sure that your pet has not been infected.

You should make sure that you are giving your dog a regular heartworm preventative medication. There are several on the market that you can get with a prescription from your vet. If you do not want to deal with the veterinary bill just to get a prescription for Sentinel or Interceptor, you can also look into buying Heartgard Plus - this treatment is sometimes available without a prescription.

It is also advisable to do whatever you can to avoid mosquitoes. Most home and garden stores will sell equipment that will help you keep them from breeding.

If your pet already has heartworms, then you should ask your veterinarian about your options to control the adult heartworms. In most cases, you will need to give your dog doses of medication that will kill off the adult worms.

You should protect your cat from dog heartworm as well.

Most of the same methods are necessary to control dog heartworm in your cat as well. Frequent checkups and heartworm tests will make sure that you know whether or not your cat has heartworms. There are also preventative medicines that will keep your cat safe from heartworm infection. Make sure you ask your vet about which medicines are most effective. Both Heartgard and Interceptor make preventative doses for cats.