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You have to hand it to that pesky mosquito. Not only does he annoy man and beast alike, but he also carries an especially nasty scourge
to unprotected dogs or cats.The malady is called Heartworm Disease. It is caused by a parasite that literally lives in the dog or cat's heart! The microscopic larval stages are passed from one animal to
another when the mosquito takes a blood meal. The immature heartworms migrate to the heart and lungs as they develop over the next few months. The presence of the worms, which can reach a length of 14 inches, interferes
with the heart's ability to pump blood to the rest of body. Consequently, the heart and lungs fail
to function properly, and the animal becomes very sick.
- Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes.
- They are the most life-threatening of all canine parasites.
- Cats are also susceptible
Because we live in an area where heartworm prevention is recommended, we advise that you protect
your pet against this threat. It's easy to do. And since it only takes one mosquito to pass along heartworm disease, even indoor pets can benefit from prevention. A simple blood test is needed before preventive medication is started to make sure your dog or cat does not already carry the parasite.
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