Title: National Heartworm Awareness Month
1 National Heartworm Awareness Month How Much Do
You Know About Heartworms?
2- Heartworms have knocked out more than one
million dogs with the disease across the world
and still continue to be a threat in all major
and minor countries. It is a major health concern
for the canine and feline owners as this disease
can prove to be life-threatening and may go
unnoticed for years. Owing to how quickly this
menace is sprawling over the country, it is
important to stay vigilant and take precautionary
measures well in advance. - As there is a surge in the number of cases of
heartworms in pets all over Australia, it is
important for parents to remain aware of this
disease. April is recognized as The National
Heartworm Awareness Month in order to raise
awareness regarding this fatal disease.
3 National Heartworm Awareness Month 2019
4How are Heartworms Transmitted to Dogs?
5- Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes that are
infected with the larvae of Dirofilaria
immitisknown as microfilariae. - These microfilariae are then transmitted to the
dogs when the infected mosquito bites and sucks
blood from the animal. - Once inside the bloodstream, these larval forms
move to different organs of the body and
especially, to the heart and lungs. - They then attach to the walls of these organs and
at times coagulate in masses to derive nutrition.
- This causes blockage of the arteries and valves
which hampers the blood flow to the organs
leading to issues like respiratory diseases and
other health ailments. - But the risky part is the disease is
unpredictable and can lead to sudden heart
attack.
6How is Heartworm Disease Treated in Dogs?
7- Heartworm disease is a debilitating ailment and
requires intensive care. If the dog has
contracted the disease already, it would require
a series of injections to kill all the
microfilariae in the blood. - However, heartworm treatments can have serious
repercussions on the dogs health hence it is
better to prevent the disease than treating it.
8How to Prevent Heartworm Disease in Dogs?
9- Heartworm preventatives are one of the best ways
to avoid the disease from happening. - They are specially formulated to kill the
immature forms of the worm which disrupts their
transformation from juvenile to adult heartworms.
- It is necessary to use these pills in advance
because once the worms have transformed into
adults, the preventatives become ineffective.
10- Moreover, heartworms are transmitted by
mosquitoes, therefore, make sure you use mosquito
repellents and avoid places where they are found
in great numbers to avoid the increased risk of
transmission of the disease. - Heartworms are a menace for the entire canine
family and make life worse if the dog gets
infected with them, therefore, it is up to us to
make sure we take proper care of our furry kid. - A well-balanced diet and maintenance of optimum
weight are equally necessary to ward off diseases
and increase immunity. So, make sure he stays in
the pink of health and in proper hygiene always. - Read Heartworm Disease In Pets Signs
Treatment
11A piece of advice Get your dog checked for
heartworms at least every 6 months or annually.
Hope this National Heartworm Awareness Month,
more and more people will become aware of
heartworms and will start using preventatives if
they havent until now. So, be that parent and
spread awareness regarding this fatal disease and
save the lives of other pets around you.