Few things matter more to pet owners than keeping their furry companions healthy and happy. One serious threat that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late is heartworm infections. At Healthy Pet Hospital in Orange, CA, our team of experienced veterinarians is committed to helping you protect your pets with effective heartworm prevention.
What Are Heartworms?
Heartworms are a parasite spread through mosquito bites. When a mosquito carrying larvae bites your dog—or, less commonly, your cat—the larvae enter the bloodstream and mature into long worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The result is progressive damage that can lead to severe lung disease, heart failure, or even death.
Because the early stages of infection often cause no noticeable symptoms, many pet owners don’t realize their dog or cat is infected until the disease has advanced. At that point, treatment becomes more difficult, expensive, and risky.
Why Prevention Is Essential
The good news is that heartworms are almost entirely preventable. Monthly medications, whether given orally, topically, or as an injection administered by your veterinarian, are highly effective at protecting pets. Compared to the risks and costs of treating advanced heartworm disease, prevention is safe, simple, and affordable.
At Healthy Pet Hospital, our veterinarians recommend year-round protection, especially here in California, where mosquitoes are active for much of the year. Skipping even one dose of prevention can leave your pet vulnerable.
Heartworm and Cats
While heartworm disease is more common in dogs, cats are not immune. Cats can develop respiratory issues and other complications from even a small number of worms. Unfortunately, there’s no approved treatment for cats once they are infected, making prevention the only line of defense.
Testing and Prevention Plans
Before starting a prevention program, our veterinarians will perform a simple blood test to ensure your pet isn’t already infected. From there, we’ll recommend the best prevention method for your pet’s lifestyle and needs.
Call Our Vets near You to Schedule Your Pet’s Appointment Today
Heartworm disease is serious, but with consistent prevention, it’s entirely avoidable. Protect your pet’s health and your peace of mind by scheduling a heartworm prevention appointment at Healthy Pet Hospital in Orange, CA. Call us today at (714) 771-3261 to speak with one of our veterinarians and get your pet started on the right plan for lasting protection.