by Nomi Berger

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KNOW that Heartworm Disease is potentially terminal but preventable. One bite from a

single mosquito can cause an otherwise healthy dog to develop Heartworm Disease.

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KNOW that a heartworm is a parasitic worm (Dirofilaria Immitis) that lives in the heart

and lungs of an affected dog. The worm’s larvae travel from the mosquito’s bite through

the bloodstream and damage arteries and vital organs as they go, arriving at the lungs

and heart approximately six months after that initial mosquito bite. Several HUNDRED

worms can live in a single dog up to seven years, and left untreated, can prove deadly.

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KNOW that the best protection against this insidious disease is prevention. Heartworm

prevention is both safe and effective. Treating the disease itself is complicated, costly

and can, like the disease, have serious, even fatal effects on the afflicted dog.

Preventatives work by killing the heartworm larvae before they can grow into adult

heartworms and infest your dog. Although a variety of preventives are available to pet

owners, the first step is to visit your vet.

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KNOW that most vets recommend YEARLY TESTING for heartworms in dogs older than

six months. If your dog is heartworm negative (does not have heartworm larvae in its

bloodstream), inexpensive heartworm preventatives are available with your vet’s

prescription. Some heartworm preventatives contain additional ingredients that will

control other parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, fleas and ticks.

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KNOW that the American Heartworm Society guideline is to give heartworm prevention

all year around, in every state. And even if your dog does not go outside, mosquitoes

can still get inside, so ALWAYS use heartworm prevention!

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KNOW that you can protect the dog you love against these invasive, possibly lethal

parasites.

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KNOW that, most of all, TIGR is always available to help!

Artiles by Nomi Berger. Nomi is the best selling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction and two volumes of poetry. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with her adopted Maltese, Mini, and volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.