Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm prevention is an essential part of keeping your furry friend healthy. These parasites can cause serious damage to your dog's heart and lungs, and prevention is much easier than treatment. Talk to your veterinarian about the best heartworm prevention options for your dog, and make sure to keep up with regular check-ups and medication schedules. Your pup will thank you for it!
Year-Round Prevention:
AAHA recommends year-round heartworm prevention for dogs, even in areas with seasonal mosquito activity.
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Why Prevention is Crucial:
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Cost-effective:
Preventing heartworm disease is often more cost-effective than treating an infection. Treatment can be expensive, involving medications and sometimes surgery, and may not guarantee a full recovery.
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Severity of Infection: The longer an infection persists, the more damage it causes to the heart and lungs. Prevention is a proactive approach to avoid the potentially irreversible consequences of heartworm disease.
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Ease of Prevention: Monthly heartworm preventatives are convenient and easy to administer. This is a simple way to protect your pet from a potentially devastating disease.
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Overall Health: Heartworm preventatives often protect against other intestinal parasites, providing comprehensive protection for your pet's overall health.
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Peace of Mind: Knowing that your pet is protected from a serious and potentially fatal disease allows you peace of mind.
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Testing:
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Annual heartworm testing is recommended, even for dogs on continuous preventive medication. This helps ensure early detection and treatment if needed.
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Preventive Medications:
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Several safe and effective heartworm preventive medications are available, including monthly oral tablets, topical applications, and injectables.
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Starting Prevention:
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Puppies should start heartworm prevention by 8 weeks of age. Adult dogs not on a preventive regimen should be tested before starting medication.
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Compliance:
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Consistent and timely administration of heartworm preventive medication is crucial. Missing doses or giving them irregularly increases the risk of infection
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