Of all of the pests that can irritate your pet, one of the worst is heartworms. Over 100,000 dogs in the United States are diagnosed with heartworm disease a year. They don’t cause many symptoms at first but can prove to be fatal if left unaddressed. While there are more infestations of heartworms in the southeastern states, it is important to give your pet preventatives and treatments no matter where you live. Your veterinary office Raleigh NC, such as Complete Pet Care, tests, diagnoses, and treats heartworms in both dogs and cats.

What Are Heartworms?

Heartworms are a parasite that can live in the heart, lungs, and sometimes blood vessels of cats and dogs. Called heartworm disease, an infestation of these parasites can be fatal to pets. Adult worms look like cooked spaghetti noodles and can live in dogs for five to seven years and cats for two to three years. In the early stages of the disease, pets may show little to no symptoms. The longer the infestation lasts, however, the more dangerous and difficult they are for any veterinary office Raleigh NC to treat. There are four stages of heartworm disease. In dogs, symptoms include:

• Class one: No symptoms or the occasional cough
• Class two: Cough or tiredness after physical activity
• Class three: Persistent cough, trouble breathing, signs of heart failure
• Class four: Also called caval syndrome, this stage can be fatal to animals, even with surgery.

Symptoms of heartworm disease in cats are much different than in dogs. Most infected cats rarely show signs of heartworms. If signs are shown, they are usually nonspecific such as vomiting, decreased activity and appetite, and weight loss. If your pet is displaying unusual signs or symptoms, take them to the best vet in Raleigh NC, Complete Pet Care, for emergency and routine care.

What Causes Heartworms?

Heartworm disease is only transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. If a mosquito bites an infected animal, the worms can live inside of the insect for a short period of time. The now infected mosquito can bite another animal, and they too can become infected with the parasites. While the infection is most common in the southeastern region of the United States, every pet should be treated and/or on a preventative, regardless of where they live.

Preventing and Treating Heartworms

The best way to avoid this parasite is through prevention medications. There are monthly prescriptions for both dogs and cats that can be used to avert heartworm disease. Prevention medications do not kill adult worms, but simply prevent new ones from growing. Testing should also be done at your veterinary office Raleigh NC every year to ensure that heartworms are not present in your pet’s heart or lungs. However, if your pet tests positive for heartworms, there are treatments available to remove adult worms. The earlier this disease is caught, the higher chances for survival in the animal.

Complete Pet Care | Veterinary Office Raleigh NC

Whether you’re a new or experienced pet owner, heartworms can pose a threat to dogs and cats of all ages. Complete Pet Care is the best vet in Raleigh NC, and we are dedicated to making sure your pet is happy and healthy inside and out. For more information about our services, please visit our website.