Just like protecting your pets from fleas and ticks is important, so is protecting them from parasites like heartworms. Heartworm disease can be extremely harmful and even fatal to cats and dogs. Not only can heartworms cause permanent damage to your pet’s vital organs, they are also dangerous because of how easily they spread. Here’s why it’s so important to protect your pet from heartworms.
How Do Heartworms Spread?
Mosquitos are actually one of the most common transmitters of heartworms. When the mosquito bites an infected animal, it drinks blood that contains heartworm larvae. The larvae can survive up to 10 to 14 days without a host. During that time, whenever the mosquito bites another animal, the worms get transferred into the healthy animal’s bloodstream.
Can Humans Get Heartworms from Pets?
In rare cases, heartworms can be passed to humans. While this is not common, it is still a possibility. Because this disease can affect the whole family, it’s important to get your pet tested regularly.
Heartworms Can Live a Long Time
It takes about six months for heartworm larvae to mature into adults and start reproducing. Each worm can live between 2 to 7 years, depending on the host. These parasites can grow over a foot long, and live in the afflicted animal’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Heartworm disease is an ongoing problem—unless it’s treated promptly, generations of worms can infect your pet.
Heartworms tend to live the longest and reproduce the most when they infect dogs. In some cases, hundreds of heartworms have been found in a dog’s body. In cats, heartworms typically don’t live as long, and there are usually only one to three worms present. However, even though cats are “imperfect” hosts, heartworms can still be deadly.
How to Recognize the Signs of Heartworm Disease
Heartworms cause lung disease, heart failure, and permanent damage to the internal organs. In the early stages of heartworm disease, pets typically have no detectable symptoms. Because it takes so long for symptoms to manifest, regular veterinary checkups and testing are very important.
Signs of Heartworm in Dogs
- Mild but persistent cough
- Fatigue after light or moderate exercise
- Resistance to exercise
- Weight loss and decreased appetite
- Organ failure (typically the heart or lungs)
Signs of Heartworm in Cats
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting
- Weight loss and lack of appetite
- Difficulty walking
- Seizures
- Sudden collapse
Heartworm Treatment for Pets in Gilbert, Arizona
Testing and treatment are an important part of protecting your pet from the dangers of heartworms. Yearly testing and monthly heartworm prevention medications are usually enough to keep your pet safe. However, if they do become infected, they will need expert veterinary care.
Here at East Valley Animal Hospital, we offer preventive pet care, emergency veterinary care, and therapeutic care as well. If your pet is due for a checkup, or they need some heartworm prevention medication, contact us today to make an appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (5/28/25). Photo by Tran Mau Tri Tam ✪ on Unsplash.