Safeguarding Canine Health: 4 Methods to Shield Your Dog from Heartworm
Dog owners take pride in ensuring their pets' health and well-being, and avoiding parasites is a key aspect of responsible pet care. One lesser-known threat is heartworm disease, which can cause devastating harm to a dog's heart, lungs, and other organs, often without evident symptoms until irreversible damage has been done. Fortunately, protecting dogs against heartworm is easier and more affordable than ever with readily available preventatives.
The Need for Canine Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm disease is a serious threat to dogs across all U.S. states, yet prevention is frequently overlooked. Untreated, this condition can result in extensive damage to a dog's heart and lungs, as well as other vital organs. In many cases, dogs exhibiting no clinical symptoms have already sustained significant damage from the disease.
Dogs diagnosed with heartworm require an extensive and expensive treatment regimen, and the prognosis varies based on factors such as the dog's age, symptoms, and medical history. The treatment process often involves exercise and lifestyle restrictions, making it challenging for pet owners to comply. Delaying treatment or advancing stages of the disease can make heartworm disease fatal for dogs.
Preventing heartworm infections in dogs with oral or topical medications like Interceptor Plus, Trifexis, or Advantage Multi for Dogs is a far simpler alternative to treating the disease. However, these preventatives must be administered monthly throughout the year for complete protection.
How Dogs Contract Heartworms
Heartworms are contracted when a dog is bitten by a mosquito carrying infected larvae. Before transmitting the infection from mosquito to dog, the mosquito first feeds on an infected dog or wild animal (such as a coyote, fox, or wolf), ingesting immature heartworms known as microfilaria. After approximately two weeks, the microfilaria reach an infectious stage, making them transmissible to other dogs through the mosquito's bite.
After about six months in the ideal host, heartworms reproduce and can grow to up to a foot in length. A single dog may host a few worms to hundreds, dependent on the stage of infection. Adult heartworms can survive for several years within a dog. While dogs spending extended time outdoors are at a higher risk for heartworm disease, indoor dogs are still vulnerable as mosquitoes can easily enter homes. And contrary to anecdotal reports, male dogs and female dogs show similar susceptibility to heartworms.
The most significant risk factor for heartworm in dogs is failing to follow a veterinarian-prescribed heartworm prevention regimen.
Preventing Heartworms in Dogs
Though the prospect of a pet contracting heartworm disease can be alarming, pet owners can take several proactive measures to protect their dogs:
- Administration of Heartworm Preventatives: Many veterinary-prescribed heartworm prevention options are available, depending on a dog's specific needs. Many of these preventives also eliminate intestinal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Combination medications that contain heartworm prevention, flea prevention, and/or tick prevention can minimize the number of monthly treatments required.
- Regular Veterinary Checkups and Heartworm Testing: Regular visits to the vet and annual heartworm testing are important for monitoring the effectiveness of the medication and ensuring that the dog remains protected. Although these preventatives effectively eliminate larval stages of heartworms in the blood, they do not prevent initial mosquito bites or transmission nor do they eliminate adult worms. Missed doses or other variables can compromise a product's effectiveness.
- Use of Dog-Safe Mosquito Repellent: By reducing the chances of the mosquito biting the dog, heartworm transmission can be prevented. Ensure the chosen product is safe for the dog, nontoxic, and suitable for use around other pets, if applicable.
- Treatment of Home and Environment: Reducing the mosquito population within the dog's environment can further decrease the risk of heartworm disease. This can be achieved by eliminating standing water on the property and using pet-safe yard treatments to deter mosquitoes.
Top Heartworm Prevention Products for Dogs
Keeping a dog on year-round heartworm preventatives is the best way to safeguard against infection and disease. Here are some of the most highly-recommended heartworm prevention medications by veterinarians:
Interceptor Plus
This chicken-flavored chewable offers more protection against intestinal worms than any other formula while preventing heartworms. Interceptor Plus is available in four sizes, effective for dogs starting at 2 pounds and 6 weeks old.
Simparica Trio for Dogs
Simparica Trio, a chewable dog heartworm preventative, protects against heartworms, fleas, ticks, and multiple types of intestinal worms. It is suitable for dogs 8 weeks and older and is administered once a month.
Heartgard Plus
Heartgard Plus, a well-established brand, offers roundworm and hookworm protection in addition to heartworm prevention. This beef-flavored chew is given once a month for year-round protection, suitable for dogs 6 weeks of age and older.
Trifexis
Trifexis, a monthly chewable tablet, protects against fleas concurrently with heartworms, as well as hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. It is available in five sizes and should be given to dogs once a month for 30 days’ protection.
Advantage Multi
Advantage Multi is a 6-in-1 monthly topical solution that prevents heartworm disease, treats and controls sarcoptic mange and intestinal worms, and treats and prevents flea infestations. It is easy to apply on the back of the dog and should be administered monthly. It is suitable for dogs starting at seven weeks old.
Avoid relying on natural heartworm preventatives as they are ineffective and potentially dangerous. Only FDA-approved medications for heartworm prevention in dogs can be obtained through veterinarians or pet pharmacies with a prescription from the dog's veterinarian. To receive the prescription, the dog needs to have been examined within the past 12 months, have up-to-date heartworm testing, and meet other requirements. There are no effective or approved over-the-counter medications for treating heartworms in dogs.
- Incorporating a regular heartworm prevention regimen, such as Interceptor Plus, Simparica Trio, Heartgard Plus, Trifexis, or Advantage Multi for Dogs, can aid in maintaining the health and wellness of dogs by ensuring they are not affected by the devastating effects of heartworm disease.
- In addition to administering monthly preventatives, pet owners can promote their dogs' fitness and exercise routines as regular physical activity may enhance their immune systems, making them more resilient against potential health issues, including heartworm disease.
