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Test yourself about heartworm disease. The following answers are true or false.
1-Indoor pets cannot get heartworms.
True or False?
2-Dogs and cats need to on heartworm prevention all year round for their entire lives. True or False?
3-Heartworms can kill a pet.
True or False?
4-You can diagnose heartworm disease just by looking at the pet or listening to it cough.
True or False?
5-There is a treatment for canine heartworm disease.
True or False?
6-It is safe to start any age dog on heartworm prevention without a veterinary visit first.
True or False?
7-Heartworms are transmitted to dogs and cats by mosquitoes
True or False?
Statements one, four, six, are false. One is false because any dog not on prevention is susceptible to infection. Mosquitoes are not selective; they can easily come into the most well kept homes and infect both cats and dogs than only go outside occasionally. Four is incorrect because a blood test is necessary to diagnose heartworm disease. In some cases, X-rays and ultrasound are necessary, too. Six is inaccurate because any dog over 6 months of age or older must have a blood test prior to starting on the heartworm prevention to avoid the possibility of a reaction in the event the dog is already infected. However, cats do not need a blood test and can be started at any age over 6-8 weeks of age. Dogs under 6 months can be started on preventative without a blood test first. It is recommended to start dogs on prevention when hey are 6-8 weeks old.
Facts. Other species have been found to have heartworms including ferrets, foxes, horses and humans. The dog and the cat are the only species with approved drugs that can be given to prevent heartworm disease. Cats cannot be safely treated to kill the heartworms; they are just treated to make them more comfortable. Dogs can be treated with an arsenic based drug to kill the heartworms, but since treatment is both expensive and risky it is much safer to just prevent heartworm disease. Heartworm disease will kill. Don’t think your pet is immune from this highly preventable disease. Call for an appointment to test your dog for this disease.
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