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10 Myths About Heartworm Disease
Thursday, August 25, 2011 |
1. Myth: We don’t have heartworms in my state.
Truth: Today, heartworm disease occurs throughout the U.S., in all 50 states. The American Heartworm Society (AHS) recommends heartworm prevention for dogs nationwide.1 Click here to learn more about prevention.
2. Myth: Pets should be protected with a heartworm preventive all summer, or as long as mosquitoes are active.
Truth: The AHS now recommends year-round canine heartworm prevention in all areas of the U.S., even in regions with cold winters.1
3. Myth: Dogs with heartworm disease should be separated from other pets and small children to prevent transmission of the disease.
Truth: Infected dogs cannot pass heartworm disease to people or other pets. The only way for a pet to get heartworm disease is to be bitten by a mosquito that is carrying infective heartworm larvae.
4. Myth: Puppies are born with natural immunity to heartworms.
Truth: Any dog of any age can become infected with heartworms, if bitten by a mosquito carrying infective larvae.
5. Myth: Only dogs get heartworms.
Truth: Many other domestic and wild animals, including cats, also get heartworms — in fact, feline diagnoses are on the rise. Click here to learn about protecting your cat from heartworms.
Did you know …
A single dog can be infected with as many as 250 heartworms2
A heartworm can live up to seven years inside a dog2
A heartworm can live up to three years inside a cat2
6. Myth: I have an indoor-only cat, so I don’t need to worry about her getting heartworms.
Truth: Indoor-only cats can get heartworms, and they should be treated with a heartworm preventive. Wherever there are mosquitoes, there can be heartworm disease. Mosquitoes can get inside your home, and it only takes one to transmit heartworms.
7. Myth: Heartworm disease is easily treated in most pets.
Truth: Treating heartworm disease in dogs is difficult and risky, takes months to complete, and can cost $1,000 or more. There is no FDA-approved heartworm treatment for cats.
8. Myth: Heartworm disease is rarely fatal.
Truth: Heartworm disease kills many pets each year. In dogs, heartworms may cause multiple life-threatening health problems including heart, kidney and liver failure, and blood clots in the lungs.
9. Myth: My pet’s shots are up to date, so I don’t need to worry about heartworms.
Truth: While it’s important to protect your pet from vaccine-preventable diseases, there is no vaccine against heartworms.
10. Myth: Heartworm disease affects cats and dogs the same way.
Truth: In cats, heartworms primarily affect the lungs and pulmonary artery; in fact, heartworm disease in cats is often misdiagnosed as asthma. In dogs, heartworms are also located in the right side of the heart, in addition to the lungs. Heartworms can cause serious damage in both cats and dogs. That’s why year-round prevention is so important. Click here to learn about a heartworm disease preventive from Bayer.
Some clinical signs of heartworm disease
Cats:3,4
Coughing
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Buildup of fluid in the abdomen
Fainting
Labored breathing
Rapid breathing
Gagging
Asthma-like signs
Vomiting
Difficulty walking
Seizures
Blindness
Dogs:4,5
Coughing
Loss of appetite
Weight Loss
Buildup of fluid in the abdomen
Fainting
Labored breathing
Reluctance to exercise
Fatigue
Enlarged liver
Enlarged heart
Congestive heart failure
Abnormal lung sounds
Abnormal heart sounds
Pale gums
Dark bloody urine
1 Diagnosis, management, and prevention of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitus) infection in dogs. American Heartworm Society website. Available at: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/Guidelines-Can-HW-Disease.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2011.
2 What is heartworm disease? American Heartworm Society website. Available at: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html#catsdogs. Accessed July 6, 2011.
3 Feline heartworm disease. American Heartworm Society website. Available at: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/feline-heartworm.html. Accessed July 6, 2011.
4 Ware WA. Heartworm disease. In: Nelson RW, Couto CG, eds. Small Animal Internal Medicine. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:169-183.
5 Canine heartworm disease. American Heartworm Society website. Available at: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/canine-heartworm.html#signs. Accessed July 6, 2011.
Important Safety Information
Advantage Multi® for Dogs (imidacloprid + moxidectin) Topical Solution
For Dogs Only
Product Label | Printable Version
CAUTION:
- Federal (U.S.A.) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Do not administer this product orally. (See WARNINGS.) Do not use this product (containing 2.5% moxidectin) on cats.
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WARNINGS: For the first 30 minutes after application: Ensure that dogs cannot lick the product from application sites on themselves or other treated dogs, and separate treated dogs from one another and from other pets to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion. Ingestion of this product by dogs may cause serious adverse reactions including depression, salivation, dilated pupils, incoordination, panting, and generalized muscle tremors. In avermectin sensitive dogs, the signs may be more severe and may include coma and death. |
HUMAN WARNINGS:
- Children should not come in contact with the application site for two (2) hours after application.
PRECAUTIONS:
- Use with caution in sick, debilitated, or underweight animals.
- The safety of Advantage Multi® for Dogs has not been established in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs.
- The safe use of Advantage Multi® for Dogs has not been established in puppies and dogs less than 7 weeks of age or less than 3 lbs body weight.
- Prior to administration Advantage Multi® for Dogs, dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections.
Advantage Multi is a registered trademark of Bayer.
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