Pet Meds Top Sellers
- Frontline Plus
- Advantage
- Rimadyl
- K9 Advantix
- Revolution
- Interceptor
- Deramaxx
- Sentinel
- Heartgard Plus
- Cosequin
- Program Tabs
- Iverhart Plus
Pet Meds by Category
- Allergy & Itching
- Anti-Fungal & Ringworm
- Anxiety
- Bandages
- Behavior Aids
- Bone & Joint
- Dental Care
- Digestion
- Ear & Skin Care
- Eye Care
- Flea & Tick
- Fluid Therapy
- Grooming
- Hairball Remedies
- Healthcare Supplies
- Heartworm
- Non Rx Meds
- Shampoo & Conditioners
- Supplements
- Syringes & Needles
- Treats
- Urinary
- Vaccines
- Weight Control
- Wholesale Meds
- Wormers
- Wound Care
- Sales & Specials
Pet Articles
Flea and Tick Control
Pet Grooming
Heartworm Prevention
Pet Medications
Pet Accessories
Heartworm Medications
Oral and Topical Treatments...
Heartworm disease is an important pet care issue for both dogs and cats. Heartworms are a parasitic worm that take up residence in the heart and nearby blood vessels of your pet. Heartworm disease is spread by infected mosquitoes and has been found in all 50 US states as well as worldwide. The disease progresses thru stages as the worms grow and multiply, affecting the arteries in the lungs and blood flow. Treatment involves eliminating the worms and allowing the body to heal itself to the best health possible. While this may sound simple, the treatment can be very complicated. Treatment varies from pet to pet and depends on the amount of worms present, the effect of the worms and medication on the pets system, and overall general health of the pet. The presence of heartworms is detected with blood tests, and/or X-rays, along with other tests. While there are several treatments for heartworms and prevention medications, treatment should only be done under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Testing for heartworm disease should be done on a regular basis.
Dogs and Heartworm Disease
Veterinarians usually recommend heartworm prevention for dogs in most regions of the US. Puppies should ideally start preventative heartworm treatment at eight weeks of age (with the appropriate products) and then blood tested when seven months old. Unless the dog is less than seven months old, it is very important that dogs are tested FIRST, before using any heartworm preventative treatments. If they are older than seven months and not tested, they can have severe reactions if they are already infected. Preventative treatment is usually taken as an oral pill once a month, although there is a topical treatment too. Testing for heartworm disease should be done on a regular basis, every year if a dose is missed, every two to three years if no doses were missed and taken all year. As every dog responds differently to heartworm medications, the appropriate treatment program for your dog should be handled by your veterinarian.
Cats and Heartworm Disease
Cats are not normal hosts for the heartworm parasite so in comparison to dogs it is less common for them to become infected and at a lower rate, but they can still get heartworm disease. Detecting heartworm in cats is more difficult than in dogs, and treatment protocol varies as well. While preventative heartworm treatment is not as common in cats as in dogs, it is becoming more accepted as veterinarians continue to learn about the disease in cats. Determining if you should use a preventative heartworm medication for your cat may be based on your geographic region and is something to discuss with your veterinarian.