Heartworm prevention is critical for maintaining your dog’s health as heartworm is a serious, and potentially fatal condition caused by a worm parasite known as Dirofilaria immitis.
The parasite that causes heartworm is spread by mosquitoes. Just one bite from an infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your furry friend.
Through that bite, the mosquito can infect your dog with young heartworms, which will eventually grow up to 30 cm long and live in your dog’s heart and lungs.
The Impact of Heartworm on Dogs
- damage to the heart, lungs and blood vessels, leading to heart failure
- severe lung disease
- organ damage and
- death
Heartworm Treatment for Dogs in Australia
The heartworm treatment program is very long, complex and expensive and can have serious complications associated with it. It’s why we cannot stress enough how important prevention is.
The specific treatment plan a dog would need varies. Ask our vets regarding a tailored plan for your dog.
Heartworm Symptoms
- coughing
- fatigue
- weight loss
- difficulty breathing
- a blue or purplish discoloration of the skin and gums
- spitting up blood
- fainting
- nose bleeding and
- the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Heartworm Prevention
- Monthly oral medications
- Many dog owners use monthly chewable tablets which are easy to administer.
- These are only effective at preventing heartworm if given every month, without missing a dose!
- Types of oral monthly heartworm treatments include Simparica TRIO & Nexgard Spectra.
- Topical Treatments
- Some medications are applied directly to skin and are absorbed in blood.
- These are only effective at preventing heartworm if given every month, without missing a dose!
- Examples of topical heartworm treatments include Advocate & Revolution.
- Injectable medications
- This is the most effective method of heartworm prevention as it provides year-round protection.
- This injection (known as Pro-Heart SR-12) is given at the time of your pet’s annual vaccination, so you never miss a dose!
Regular Testing
Even if your dog is on preventive medication, we recommend annual heartworm testing. It is a quick blood test run in house and can be done at the time of your dog’s annual health check.
This ensures that your ongoing prevention efforts are effective, and your dog hasn’t contracted the disease.
If your dog has not been on a regular preventive schedule, then testing must be performed prior to starting preventive heartworm treatment. Giving a preventative treatment to a heartworm positive dog can cause severe reactions.
Environment Control
Reducing your dog’s exposure to mosquitoes can help prevent heartworm. Keep them indoors, particularly in peak mosquito activity times like dawn and dusk.
It is also important to eliminate any stagnant water around your home as this is where mosquitoes breed.
Set Reminders
Missing even a single dose of preventive medication can put your dog at risk of contracting heartworm. Setting reminders or using a treatment that matches your schedule can help ensure you never miss a dose.
Here at Lynbrook Vet, we can set reminders for you when you purchase your pet’s heartworm prevention through our practice. With competitive pricing and professional care, your dog will be in good hands and kept safe from heartworm infection.
Call 5902 7087 today!
Pro-Heart SR-12 Puppy Promotion
Did you know we offer your puppy’s first Pro-Heart SR-12 heartworm prevention injection for FREE?*
This injection is given from 12 weeks of age with a booster between 6 to 9 months of age (to accommodate their growth during this period). After this, the schedule continues annually, and aligns with your pup’s C5 vaccination schedule.
We also have great promotions on monthly flea, tick and worming treatments through our “Parasite Prevention with a Purpose” program.
Purchasing your pet’s preventative treatment through our practice goes a long way as we not only provide you with competitive pricing and bonus products, but we also send the same treatments overseas to help treat dogs and cats suffering from nasty parasites.
Plus, proceeds from purchases go towards helping sick, injured and orphaned wildlife which presents to our practice in need of veterinary care.
*Whilst promotions are running
