About Heartworm and How to Prevent it

Heartworm can be very devastating because it takes the lives of many beloved cats and dogs each year. Our animals are special members of the family and one should do everything they can to ensure their health and quality of life for as long as possible. Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm (dirofilaria immitis). This thread like worm infects wild animals as well as cats and dogs. If left untreated heartworms can destroy a perfectly healthy heart. Heartworms will eat away at the tissues of the heart muscle and eventually spread to the arteries and veins of the lungs, resulting in death. Heartworm is usually contracted by an infected mosquito. In rare instances humans have been infected with heartworm.

If your dog or cat has heartworm he or she may exhibit some of the following symptoms: coughing, weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, or excessive scratching. Although keep in mind that your pet my not experience any symptoms until it's too late, so read on to know more about how to protect your pet.

Heartworm prevention should be at the top of any pet owners list because it is such a huge threat. One of the best ways to prevent heartworm is by giving your dog or cat a monthly prescription medication from your vet. The medicine is typically presented as a tasty treat. You can also buy heartworm medication at the store. Top brands are Proheart and Heartguard. For extra protection, apply a topical solution in addition to the internal medication. The top brand for topical treatment is called Revolution.

Feed your pet a healthy diet. Choose a natural brand of cat or dog food that does not contain colors, preservatives, or artificial flavors. Be sure that your cat or dog has a good balance of raw meat in their diet such as chicken, turkey, beef and giblets. You can also grate carrots into your pet's food to give them extra vitamins.

Keep your dog or cat indoors as much as possible when the mosquito population is high. Mosquito populations tend to flourish in the late spring and summer months. Even though the risk is high in the summer, most vets say that you should still give your pet heartworm medication year round.

However, if you prefer a natural alternative to prescriptions, a good one to try is Bandit's Nature's Sunshine. The herbs found in this product have been shown to kill various parasites.

Each year your dog or cat will need a physical examination as well as a test for heartworm. The blood test only takes a few minutes and it is well worth it. If heartworm is detected, it can be dealt with in the early stages before it causes any more damage.

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Source: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/hartworm.html