Heartworm Testing for Dogs
When you pet has heartworm, they can suffer from severe organ damage that can be fatal if left untreated. Once inside your pet, heartworm can grow and reproduce – up to 250 can live inside just one patient! Fortunately, regular check-ups and medications are easy steps you can take to keep your pet protected. We maintain careful records and use reminder systems so our clients are always aware of heartworm disease protection, but if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 250-376-7208.
How do pets get heartworm?
Just one bite of any infected mosquito is all it takes for your pet to get heartworm. After the bite, the heartworm eggs or pupae make their way inside your pet where they can grow into adults and reproduce with each other.
What are the symptoms of heartworm?
Heartworm is particularly tricky because there are hardly any symptoms during its early stages. Even as time goes on, your pet may not display any still if they only have a small amount of heartworms in them. Some warning signs though are swollen stomach, fatigue, weight loss and coughing, which may only present at the later stages of disease progression.
What are the treatment options for heartworm?
First, we cannot stress enough the importance of regular check-ups and preventative medication! If your pet does get heartworm, your veterinarian may recommend any or a combination of the following treatments: oral medications, injections or manual removal via surgery (for severe cases).