{"id":540,"date":"2018-12-13T06:46:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-13T06:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluffspetclinic.com\/?p=540"},"modified":"2022-04-05T14:36:31","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T14:36:31","slug":"the-importance-of-heartworm-protection-for-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluffspetclinic.com\/blog\/the-importance-of-heartworm-protection-for-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Heartworm Protection for Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AMost pet owners have heard of heartworm, but few of us understand what it is and the danger it poses to our pets. In colder climates, such as here in Minnesota, heartworm just doesn\u2019t seem like a big risk, causing many pet parents to put year-round\u00a0parasite prevention<\/a> on the back burner.<\/p>\n

April is Heartworm Awareness Month, and the team at\u00a0The Bluff\u2019s Pet Clinic<\/a>\u00a0would like to take this opportunity to share with our readers the\u00a0importance<\/a>\u00a0of heartworm protection for all pets.<\/p>\n

Getting to Know Heartworm<\/h3>\n

Heartworm is present in all 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, as well as throughout the temperate regions of the world, and poses a serious risk to canine and feline health.<\/p>\n

Heartworm is caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis, and is transmitted by mosquitoes that have fed on an infected animal, such as a dog, cat, coyote, raccoon, opossum, or wolf. The worms take up residence in the heart, lungs, and accompanying blood vessels, wreaking havoc on the internal organs as they grow and reproduce over a period of several months or years.<\/p>\n

Heartworm in dogs can be treated if caught early enough, but treatment is expensive and painful, and often requires months of confinement.<\/p>\n

A Word About Cats<\/h3>\n

Cats are considered an atypical host for heartworm, meaning they\u2019re not as physiologically compatible with the disease as dogs. This is why there are fewer cases of heartworm in cats, but it\u2019s also the why there is no effective treatment for feline heartworm. It only takes a few worms for the disease to be fatal.<\/p>\n

Signs and Symptoms<\/h3>\n

Symptoms commonly associated with heartworm disease include:<\/p>\n