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Heartworm protection for your cat and dog...

Yes, we said cat and dog.

Most of you are familiar with prevention measures for your canine friends, but did you know your felines are vulnerable to heartworm’s deadly threat, too? Even indoor-only cats need protection.

What is heartworm?
Heartworms are fairly large worms that, full-grown, can reach 14 inches in length. As they move through the bloodstream and settle in to grow and multiply, they damage the circulatory system and major organs , such as the lungs, heart, and liver. Both the larvae and the worms can do life-threatening damage. 

What can I do?
Start with testing your animals. If heartworm testing is positive, we can begin treating your pet before the infection becomes debilitating. If the testing is negative, we’ll recommend a preventative. For the best protection, most preventatives are given monthly, year-round.

What are preventatives?
We carry HEARTGARD, Interceptor, and Revolution. HEARTGARD is oldest and most palatable of the preventatives. It is a chewable that most cats and dogs can hardly wait to chow down on.

Merial, maker of HEARTGARD, says, “HEARTGARD (ivermectin) brand products do not contain wheat gluten and remain unaffected by the issues surrounding the recall of certain pet foods in the United States. You can continue to use HEARTGARD with confidence.”

Interceptor comes in tablet form and is used with animals that don’t respond well to HEARTGARD.

Revolution is a topical liquid, applied to the skin. The vet will recommend a treatment best suited to your pet. All of these are tried-and-true preventatives.

How can I tell if my pet is infected?
Without testing, you can’t until your pet is heavily infected and serious damage has been done.

In dogs, symptoms might include mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise, tiredness after only moderate exercise, dark brown urine, reduced appetite, and weight loss.

Cats symptoms are even less specific and might include vomiting, gagging, difficulty breathing or rapid breathing, lethargy and weight loss. Infected cats may die without allowing time for diagnosis or proper treatment.

You can get more information about how the worms spread and heartworm in general from the American Heartworm Society:
www.heartwormsociety.org.