02/07/2024
It's almost time for mosquito season which means heartworm prevention is something to strongly consider. There are confirmed cases of heartworm in all 50 states. In the state of Iowa alone there were approximately 6-25 cases per reporting clinic. Thats a lot of pets!
You may tell yourself that your dog doesn't go outside much so their risk of contracting such infection is lower. According to the American Heartworm Society your community may have a greater incidence of heartworm disease than you realize—or you may unknowingly travel with your pet to an area where heartworms are more common. Heartworm disease is also spreading to new regions of the country each year. Stray and neglected dogs and certain wildlife such as coyotes, wolves, and foxes can be carriers of heartworms. Mosquitoes blown great distances by the wind and the relocation of infected pets to previously uninfected areas also contribute to the spread of heartworm disease (this happened following Hurricane Katrina when 250,000 pets, many of them infected with heartworms, were “adopted” and shipped throughout the country).
Once inside a new host, it takes approximately 6 months for the larvae to develop into sexually mature adult heartworms. Once mature, heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs. Because of the longevity of these worms, each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in an infected pet. Let's get your pet tested and protected with an appointment this spring!!
