Heartworm is a grievous and potentially fatal parasite that poses a risk to dog and hombre during all four seasons , yet 51 percent of best-loved parent skip twelvemonth - round bar , arecent surveyfound .
Despite the growing preponderance of heartworm disease in the U.S. , well-nigh 40 percent of frump and hombre owners surveyed tell they do n’t conceive their pet is at jeopardy of mother heartworms . Further , nearly 30 percent indicated that their favourite is not on heartworm prevention at all .
A detent or cat can get heartworms through the bite of an septic mosquito . The survey found that 21 percent of favorite owners do n’t consider the mosquito in their state contain the parasite , even though heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states .
Why Are Heartworm Cases on the Rise?
Heartworm rates continue to curve up in “ hotspots ” and locations where vitrine were once rare , the American Heartworm Society’s2022 Heartworm Incidence Mapshows . Multiple factors may play a office in the growth in heartworm prevalence in certain part of the country , including :
“ The gap in bar measure surely trifle a role , but that ’s not all there is to the rise in heartworm infestation , ” read Dr. Rhiannon Koehler , a veterinary in Overland Park , Kansas . “ Climate modification is causing the ranges and dynamic seasons of mosquitoes that carry heartworms to expand , reach heartworm infestation an increasingly widespread exit . ”
States with the gamy increase in heartworm diagnosis over the past five class include Delaware , Montana , Nevada , Idaho and Utah , Banfield data shows . Meanwhile , Connecticut had the largest decrease in the charge per unit of pets diagnose with heartworms , down 46 per centum .
Why Is Year-Round Heartworm Prevention So Important?
It is of import to protect pets from heartworm year - round , not just during warmer month . “ The ranges and active seasons of mosquito that convey heartworms are blow up , ” Dr. Koehler explain .
However , 41 percent of surveyed pet possessor believe heartworm is only a risk during sure parts of the year . In addition , 18 percent said they only use a preventative during natural spring and summer month .
Heartworm prevention is safer and more low-cost than treatment , Dr. Koehler stresses . “ Treatment for heartworms in dog-iron involves a series of injectant of an arsenic - ground medication to kill the heartworms and can be over $ 1,000 , ” she says . That can be hard on a frankfurter and a Brobdingnagian strain on a pet parent ’s bag .
Although dogs are the best-loved legion for heartworms , bozo can get heartworms , too . The report card note a 47 percent addition in heartworm case in cats over the past five yr . Unfortunately , there is currently no secure and okay handling for guy with adult heartworms . “ We have to wait for cats to either bring in the heartworms on their own or succumb to the heartworms , ” Dr. Koehler say . “ For cats , even a humble number of heartworms can be lifespan - lowering . ”
The ripe news is that heartworm is easily preventable in both dogs and cats . “ Your veterinarian can function with you to see a safe preventative for your favourite , ” Dr. Koehler say . “ You have options ! ”
