Heartworm

Heartworm is a large parasite that lives in the heart and main blood vessels of the lungs.

Heartworm microfilaria is transmitted from dog to dog via mosquitoes. The parasite is within the mosquito and is injected into your dog’s bloodstream when they bite. As mosquitoes fly and migrate, your dog doesn’t necessarily need to come into contact with another dog to contract heartworm.

If heartworm develops without treatment or diagnosis, they could multiply within your dog’s bloodstream. This could interfere with circulation causing damaged tissues or lead to heart/liver failure or lung disease which would be fatal to your pet. 

Thankfully, heartworm is very easy to prevent and should form part of your pet health care routine.

Preventative treatments can start from 8 weeks with a monthly chewable or spot-on treatment. Your pet can be on this for life or alternatively your pet can have an injection from 3 months with a booster at 9 and 12 months of age. Your dog would then be covered for 12 months with a repeat injection annually. Alternatively, your pet could have an annual injection at the same time as their first adult vaccination without a booster injection required. If your pet has never or inconsistently been treated for heartworm a blood test is required prior to heartworm prevention starting.

Please call our team on 03 5952 2936 to discuss heartworm preventative treatments