Heartworms in Dogs          

Heartworms are a deadly disease in dogs. Dogs living in Eastern Cincinnati and Clermont County are at higher risk than dogs in other parts of the Tri-state area. 

How do dogs get heartworms?

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites a dog with heartworms, it picks up microfilaria (baby heartworms). The mosquito spreads the disease by biting a healthy dog. The microfilaria travel through the blood vessels to the heart and lungs where they develop into the adult worms. If untreated, the adult worms will eventually cause heart failure, killing your dog. 

Signs of Infection

There are usually very few outward signs of infection until late in the course of the disease.  Clinical signs include cough, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, weight loss and collapse.  Our veterinarians may be able to detect a heart murmur, ascities (fluid in the belly), liver problems, and changes on X-rays and blood work.  While heartworm disease can be treated, treatment is both expensive and dangerous, with long periods of confinement required. In addition, there is often irreversible damage to the dog’s heart and lungs that occur before the worms are even detected. 

Prevention

Fortunately, we have very effective medications to prevent this disease. Year-round heartworm prevention is recommended. Clermont Animal Hospital, Inc. currently recommends either Advantage Multi® or Interceptor® on a monthly basis for your dog’s heartworm preventative. Advantage Multi® is a topical (skin) product used to prevent heartworms and also to kills fleas and ear mites and prevents future intestinal parasite infections. Interceptor® is a tablet that prevents future intestinal parasite infections, in addition to heartworms. 

Both Advantage Multi® and Interceptor® are available as single doses or as six-dose packages. Because these products are dosed by weight, we recommend purchasing single doses while your puppy is still rapidly growing. For adult dogs and puppies six months or older, a six-pack of the appropriate dose size is more convenient and cost-effective.

Proheart is an injection that was given once every six months for heartworm prevention. Currently it is only conditionally approved by the FDA.  Until it becomes fully approved, our office will not carry this product.  If your dog has received Proheart® injections in the past, we recommend continuing monthly prevention until this product becomes available.

Detection

Puppies under six months old do not need to be tested for heartworms before starting on a preventative. If you have an adult dog or a puppy older than six months old that has not been on heartworm preventative, we need to do a blood test to make sure he or she is not already infected with heartworms before starting prevention. 

Clermont Animal Hospital, Inc. recommends this test yearly for all adult dogs. This is particularly important if you ever miss a month of preventative or if you are more than a week late in giving it to your dog. Remember, heartworms kill dogs. Early detection is very important.

   Heartworms in Cats 

Heartworms are a deadly disease in cats. While heartworm infestation is primarily a disease of dogs, it does occasionally affect cats.

How do cats get heartworms?

The microfilaria (baby heartworms) are spread by the mosquito.  If a mosquito bites an infected dog and then bites your cat, some of the microfilaria will enter your cat’s bloodstream.  They can then travel through the blood to the heart and lungs where they mature into the adult worms.

Signs of Infection

While your cat may have primary heart problems as a result of heartworm infection, respiratory problems are much more common in cats.  Coughing, difficulty breathing, and changes of the appearance of lungs on X-ray can all be seen with heartworm disease in cats.  Cats with any of these signs should be tested for heartworms.  Infected cats will test positive on an antibody blood test.  Currently, there is no cure for this disease in cats, as cats do not tolerate the treatment used in dogs.  Signs of illness gradually worsen over time, and most cats will eventually die from this disease.

Prevention

We recommend that outdoor cats and cats who spend significant amounts of time outdoors are treated monthly with heartworm preventive. We carry Advantage Multi ® for cats that will both prevent heartworms and kill fleas. This is a monthly topical (skin) application.  Interceptor® can also be used in cats for heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention.

             Heartworms in Ferrets

While this disease is extremely rare in ferrets, heartworm infection can occur. It is most commonly seen in ferrets who spend a significant amount of time outside or who frequently travel to warmer climates.

This disease is very similar in signs and presentation to the disease seen in cats.  However, unlike cats, ferrets tolerate the treatment protocol relatively well.  The success of treatment depends on the length and severity of the infection as well as the degree of heart damage at the time of treatment. 

Monthly prevention is recommended for any ferret with risk of exposure; however, no commercial products are currently labeled for use in ferrets. 

If you are interested in starting your ferrets on a monthly heartworm prevention program, our veterinarians will advise you on this.