April is Heartworm Prevention Month! This month we’re deep diving into everything about heartworms, from risks to incidence to treatment to prevention!
See those little wiggle worms? 🪱
These are heartworm microfilariae as seen under a microscope. These are early-stage, immature heart worms seen in a blood sample of a dog. The small, red circles surrounding these worms are red blood cells. This video was taken in hospital from one of our canine clientele!
So what are heartworms? 🩸
Heartworms are a parasite of the blood and are transmitted by mosquitos. Dogs are the natural host of heartworms, and if an infected dog is left untreated, dogs have been known to have hundreds of foot-long worms (yes, FOOT-long) in their circulatory system.
What about cats? 🐈⬛
Cats can also get heartworm disease, but it is very different from dog heartworm disease because cats are atypical hosts. While there is heartworm treatment for dogs, there is currently no treatment for cats. (Keep an eye out for our cat specific heartworm disease post next week!)
What’s the risk? 🫀🫁
Heartworm diseases causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries, and can affect a dog’s quality of life. It is a very dangerous disease that poses severe risks to an animal’s cardiovascular health.
What can I do to protect my pet? 🐶🐱
Prevention is key! Specifically, YEAR ROUND prevention. Heartworm transmissions can occur at any time of year even in low incidence areas like Southern California.
Prescription prevention such as Nexgard Plus, Interceptor Plus, Simprica Trio, and Revolution all protect against heartworms as well as other parasites and tick borne diseases.
If you would like to get your pet on heartworm prevention, give us a call at 858-748-3326 📞
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#heartworm #heartwormprevention #heartwormpreventionmonth #heartwormpreventionsaveslives #veterinary #veterinarian #vethospital
Solensia
Give your cat the gift of mobility and comfort with Solensia, a monthly injection to help manage osteoarthritis pain in cats. One client whose cat recently started receiving Solensia injections said, “I started Solensia because my 16-year-old cat was pooping outside of the box. 3 days after starting it, she started using the litter box again! Poor decrepit thing couldn’t posture in the box.” Contact us to discuss how Solensia can improve your cat's quality of life! 🐱💉 To learn more, contact us: https://bit.ly/3kFKjwt
Librela
Introducing Librela: a game-changer in osteoarthritis pain management for dogs. 🐶 One veterinarian's heartwarming account: "We had a 12-year-old Newfoundland that suffered from bilateral hip dysplasia. The owners were contemplating euthanasia since he wasn't responding to current therapy. We gave Librela, and, in less than 30 days, the dog was running and chasing squirrels in the backyard." Trust Librela for happier, more active furry companions! Contact us to learn more about Librela: https://bit.ly/3kFKjwt
