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Heartworm Prevention

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Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites. These worms can damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of both dogs and cats. Some pets show no symptoms, while others may experience coughing, fatigue, weight loss, or difficulty breathing.

Heartworm Disease in Dogs and Cats

In dogs, heartworm disease progresses through several stages, and symptoms can range from mild coughing and decreased activity to severe heart failure and fluid buildup in the abdomen. If left untreated, heartworms can grow up to a foot long and cause life-threatening complications.

Although heartworm disease is often associated with dogs, cats are also at risk. Heartworm infection in cats can lead to heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD), which mimics asthma or allergic bronchitis. Symptoms may include:

  • Rapid or difficult breathing

  • Wheezing and panting

  • Coughing

  • Vomiting (often unrelated to eating)

  • Loss of appetite or weight loss

Diagnosing heartworm disease in cats is more challenging than in dogs, and there is no approved treatment for cats. While some cats may naturally eliminate the infection, even a small number of adult heartworms can cause serious complications. Because heartworm disease is difficult—and sometimes impossible—to treat, prevention is the best approach to keep your pet safe.

If you’d like to learn more about heartworm disease, including how it spreads, the risks it poses to pets, and why prevention is so important, we’ve written an in-depth blog post covering everything you need to know. Read it here: Heartworm Disease: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know.

Heartworm Prevention Options

Preventing heartworm disease is simple, effective, and far more affordable than treatment. Prevention options include:

Oral preventatives

Given as a chewable tablet once a month, these medications protect against heartworms and often cover additional parasites. We offer MilbeGuard® for both Dogs and Cats, as well as NexGard® Plus for dogs, which provides broad-spectrum protection against heartworms, fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms—helping keep your dog safe from multiple threats in one easy dose.

Topical treatments

Applied to the skin monthly, these liquid medications offer protection against heartworms and external parasites like fleas, ticks, and ear mites. Options available on through our online store include Revolution® and Advantage Multi®.

Injectable prevention

An alternative for dogs, ProHeart® provides six or 12 months of continuous heartworm protection with a single injection, making it a great option for pet owners who prefer a long-lasting solution.

The Importance of Year-Round Prevention

Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states, and mosquitoes can be active even in cooler months. The American Heartworm Society recommends giving heartworm preventatives year-round to ensure your pet is fully protected.

Most preventatives also protect against common intestinal parasites and external pests, making them an essential part of your pet’s overall health care. Our team can help you choose the best option based on your pet’s lifestyle and needs.

Protect Your Pet—Contact Us Today

Heartworm prevention is an easy and effective way to keep your pet safe from this potentially deadly disease. Give us a call, or send a text/email to learn more about the products we recommend or to get your pet started on a heartworm prevention plan!