There is a lot of great joy in welcoming a furry friend into your home, but there are also some important considerations. Vet bills are one of the often overlooked considerations for prospective owners looking to adopt animals. Along with the commitments of feeding, training, and exercising an animal, one should never forget the lifelong responsibility of maintaining its health. There are many variables to consider when considering your animal’s health and maintaining high standards for protection. You want to take measures to keep them safe so you should bring your pet in for regular vet visits; a well-immunized animal is one that will be less likely to contract disease or infection.
Animals are like humans in the sense that they require an annual “check-up” where a veterinarian will inspect the pet’s overall health and dispense necessary shots to prevent harmful infections. An example of an annual preventative measure for animals is protection against heartworm disease. The most important aspect of animal care is prevention.
What are heartworms?
Heartworms are blood-borne parasites that live in the heart and major blood vessels. Both dogs and cats are susceptible to heartworm disease, but canines have a much higher risk of contracting the disease via a mosquito bite. While transmission of heartworm from canine to canine is impossible, the presence of an infected animal in your neighbourhood can serve as a hotbed for the disease. Mosquitoes bite sick animals and then transmit the disease to healthy pets that are not protected.
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How Heartworms Affect Your Dog?
Heartworm infestation can have serious consequences for an animal’s heart, liver, and lungs. Heartworms can cause a dog to pass out due to severe damage to the internal organs. Luckily, heartworm is easily preventable if caught early on in your pet’s life. Your vet will take blood from your dog and do tests on it for the presence of worms.
The best way to prevent heartworms from taking hold is by giving your pet a monthly medication. From June through October, depending on where you live, give your animal the appropriate prevention drug that will kill off any present worms and stop more from infesting their system.
While this treatment does not always make pets feel very good about themselves initially, Heartworms lead to abnormal heart function, cardiovascular diseases, and congestive heart failure. They also weaken your dog’s immune system which makes him more susceptible to bacterial infections. Dogs who are infected with worms often suffer from a persistent cough, loss of appetite, and shortness in breath due to fluid build-up.
How to Tell If Your Dog’s Heartworm Treatment Is Working?
The most obvious sign that your dog’s heartworm treatment is working is when they have no symptoms. If any of the following symptoms are seen, you should contact a veterinarian:
- A cough or persistent coughing for more than two weeks at a time
- Loss of appetite and decreased energy levels
- Shortness of breath due to fluid build-up and wheezing
- A persistent fever
- An enlarged spleen or liver due to chronic infection with heartworms.
The most essential thing you can do with your dog’s heartworm prevention up to date! If you are unsure about the status of your dog’s treatment, talk to a vet and make sure they will be protected from heartworms.
When introducing a new pet into your family, it is important to consider all of the aspects that come with partnering with them. You will need to make sure you have enough time and dedication in order for them to be happy and healthy. You must provide nourishment, exercise, training, protection from preventable diseases such as heartworm, and other diseases due to Mites and Ticks.