• (859) 263-5037
  • office@richmondroadvetclinic.com
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
GIVING BACK
Heartworm Awareness Month—Keeping Your Pets HealthyHeartworm Awareness Month—Keeping Your Pets HealthyHeartworm Awareness Month—Keeping Your Pets HealthyHeartworm Awareness Month—Keeping Your Pets Healthy
  • Doctors
  • Services
    • Pet Health & Wellness
    • Specialty Pet Care
    • Critical Pet Care
    • Boarding Services
    • Grooming Services
    • Adoption Sponsor
  • Schedule
  • Pharmacy
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Pet Education
    • Anesthesia: When Necessary
    • Dental Procedures
    • Diagnostic Exams: Why Needed
    • Heartworm Medication: Why Exams Needed
    • Kitten Preventative Care
    • Puppy Preventative Care
    • Why Spay or Neuter
Existing Client Boarding
✕

Heartworm Awareness Month—Keeping Your Pets Healthy

  • Home
  • Pawsitively Newsworthy
  • Authority
  • Heartworm Awareness Month—Keeping Your Pets Healthy
Preventing Toxic Exposures In Pets
March 3, 2020
Importance of Fostering Pets
National Pet Foster Care Month – The Importance of Fostering Pets
May 27, 2020
Show all

Unless you’re a veterinarian, the name Dirofilaria imitis might sound unfamiliar to you, but the health of your pet may depend on your understanding of this common parasite. D. imitis is the Latin name for heartworm, a parasitic worm that affects the health of thousands of pets annually—including dogs, cats, and ferrets—and even some wild animals like foxes and wolves. If left untreated, the effects of heartworm can be dangerous and potentially fatal to your pet.

To help raise awareness of heartworm disease and to promote early diagnosis and treatment, April has been designated National Heartworm Awareness Month. The American Heartworm Society urges all pet owners to educate themselves on heartworm prevention to help reduce the number of cases seen in the U.S. annually.

What Exactly is a Heartworm?

Heartworms are parasitic organisms that can reach 10–12 inches in length. These worms live within the chambers of the heart, as well as within the adjacent blood vessels. An individual worm can survive 5–7 years. Heartworms reproduce within the host animal, and a single dog can host up to 250 worms. Over time, the worms impair heart and lung function, and in severe cases, can result in death.

In cats, which are not the ideal hosts for the parasite, the disease course is different. Heartworms do not typically reach maturity in cats, and typically an affected cat will have only 2 to 3 immature worms. These immature worms can still damage your cat’s heart and lungs, but the presence of heartworms can be harder to detect in cats.

How is Heartworm Transmitted?

Heartworm is a vector-borne disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. An insect that feeds on an infected animal can then transmit the parasite to an uninfected animal that it bites subsequently. Once the parasite’s larvae infect a new host, it can take about 6 months for heartworms to reach adult, reproductive age.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heartworm?

Early in the disease course, your pet may be asymptomatic, which makes heartworm tricky to diagnose. As the disease progresses, your dog may experience:

  • persistent cough
  • reluctance to exercise
  • fatigue
  • appetite loss
  • weight loss

Some dogs also experience difficulty walking, fainting, seizures, or abdominal bloating. In many cases, however, the disease progresses without producing significant symptoms until its late stage, when a fatality is likely.

In cats, a heartworm can cause:

  • persistent cough
  • asthma-like attacks
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • weight loss.

How Can You Prevent Heartworm in Your Pets?

If this all sounds pretty scary, it is. Heartworm is a serious condition. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help prevent, diagnose, and treat heartworm in your pet.

Get Your Pet Tested

All pets should undergo annual heartworm testing. The test requires a blood sample to conduct an antigen test. This detects proteins produced by the parasite within your pet’s bloodstream. Puppies that are under 7 months of age can be started on a heartworm preventative without the need for a blood test. Dogs older than 7 months should be tested before beginning any heartworm preventive regimen.

For cats, the process is somewhat different. Because heartworms are less common and harder to detect in cats, your vet may use other means, such as x-ray and ultrasound, to detect the presence of the parasite in felines. Blood tests for parasite antigens are also performed in cats.

Heartworm Preventives

A range of prescription heartworm prevention treatments is available. If your pet tests negative, check with your vet to see which prevention they recommend.

Treatment

If your pet tests positive for heartworm, your vet will likely recommend a treatment course based on the overall condition and health history of your animal. If your pet has advanced heartworm disease, your vet may ask you to restrict your animal’s activity or to administer medications that will stabilize your animal’s condition before heartworm treatment can begin.

To kill adult heartworms, your vet may administer a drug called melarsomine, given by injection at your vet’s office. Subsequent testing will determine the success of the treatment. If the worms are not eradicated, additional treatment may be needed. There is currently no drug treatment for cats with heartworm disease, and care is largely supportive.

Conclusion

We hope this quick review will help you better understand the importance of getting your pet tested for heartworms. At Richmond Road Veterinary Clinic, we understand how important your pet’s health is to you. Our trained and compassionate staff can help explain the risks of heartworm disease, can conduct heartworm tests, and can administer treatment if your pet tests positive for the parasite. Make an appointment today—we’re ready and eager to help!

Richmond Road Veterinary Clinic and its sister clinic, Tates Creek Animal Hospital, are both members of the Kentucky Veterinary Practice Group, local experts for compassionate pet care. Dr. Kevin Smith and his team of veterinarians and technicians use the most advanced technology and techniques, 24/7 monitored boarding. Should you have a question for our office or staff, please contact us at (859) 263-5037 or office@richmondroadvetclinic.com.

Share

Related posts

May 18, 2022

Committed to Community


Read more
Unhealthy people foods for pets.
January 18, 2022

6 People Foods That Are Unsuitable for Pets


Read more
Happy Cat Month
September 1, 2021

September is Happy Cat Month!


Read more

Contact Us

RICHMOND ROAD VET CLINIC
3270 RICHMOND ROAD
LEXINGTON, KY 40509
Phone: 859.263.5037
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7am – 6pm
Saturday:  8am – 6pm

Helpful Forms

  • Boarding Reservation
  • New Client Intake Form
  • Boarding Contract

Facebook Feeds

Instagram Feeds

richmondroadvet


Let's celebrate these adorable companions today an
Let's celebrate these adorable companions today and always! Show your furry friend some extra love today and remember, adopt don't shop 🐾🐶
.
.
.
In order to celebrate, we want you to send us some puppy photos. We can't wait to see the adorableness! 
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #veterinaryclinic #NationalPuppyDay #PuppyLove #FurBaby #Doggo #PetLife #PawfectDay #CutestDogsEver #CanineCompanions #DogLove #AdoptDontShop #FurryFriend #ManBestFriend #PawsomeCompanionship #lexington #lexky

Did you know we offer online scheduling for our ex
Did you know we offer online scheduling for our existing clients? Our online scheduling system simplifies your life. Book now with just a click ⤵️
.
.
.
To schedule, visit our website (link in bio)!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #bookonline #scheduleyourappointment #vet #richmondroadvet #schedule #appintment #lexington #lexky #centralkentucky #pets #vetcheck #onlinescheduling #convenience #efficiency #booknow #savesomoretime

Meet our Adoption Spotlight pet of the week, Merid
Meet our Adoption Spotlight pet of the week, Meridian! This Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler/Shepherd mix is available for adoption at the @lexingtonhumane - our adoption partner! 
.
.
.
Adopt a pet from LHS and get a complimentary wellness exam!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #adoptionspotlight #adoption #wellnesscheck #complimentary #lexhuamnesociety #lexington #lex #lexky #humane #humanesociety

Check out our feature on @lex18news @thebestoftheb
Check out our feature on @lex18news @thebestofthebluegrass by visiting their website!
.
.
.
We talked about our services and sponsorship with @lexingtonhumane 🐾 
.
.
.
#richmondroad #richmondroadvet #bestofthebluegrass #lex18 #lex #lexington #lexky #petservices #adoptionsponsor #lexingtonhumanesociety #lhs #bluegrass #centralkentucky #kentucky #vet #vetservices #pets #dogs #cats

Don't let ticks ruin your summer fun! Protect your
Don't let ticks ruin your summer fun! Protect yourself and your pets with tick bite prevention measures.
.
.
.
Call us at (859) 263-5037 to learn more!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #veterinaryclinic #dogs #TickBitePreventionWeek #ProtectYourself #StaySafeOutdoors #TickAwareness #SummerSafety #lexington #lexky #kentucky #uk

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Who says pets can't celeb
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Who says pets can't celebrate too? Make sure your pets wear their green today, just like Ruby is doing ☘️
.
.
.
Comment a ☘️ if your pet loves their green outfit!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #veterinaryclinic #stpatricksday #dogs #rrvc #tcah #green #weargreen #stpattysday #lexington #lexky #pupingreen #catingreen #kentucky

Dante was such a sweet boy during his exam. Toni,
Dante was such a sweet boy during his exam. Toni, his technician, couldn't get enough snuggles in, but can you blame her?
.
.
.
Learn more about our Pet Health Care Services: https://richmondroadvetclinic.com/pet-health-wellness/
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #veterinaryclinic #exam #petcare #pets #annualexam #pethealth #cat #kitty #catsofinstagram #instacats #lexington #lexky #kentucky

Thank you for your kind words🤩 We love to hear
Thank you for your kind words🤩 We love to hear the great things you have to say about our veterinary clinic! 
.
.
.
Want to leave a review? Visit our Google page!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #veterinaryclinic #thankyou #fivestar #goodreview #vetlove #petcare #Googlereview #happyclient

Today we honor the brave dogs who have served our
Today we honor the brave dogs who have served our country alongside their human handlers. Thank you for your service and devotion🐾
.
.
.
Honor our furry heroes today by dropping a 🇺🇸 below!
.
.
.
#K9VeteransDay #richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #veterinaryclinic #richmondroadveterinaryclinic #dog #k9 #services #ourcountry #devotion #honor #lexington #lexky #veterans #k9veterans #MilitaryDogs #ServiceDogs #CanineHeroes #LoyalCompanions #PatriotPups #ManBestFriend #VeteranCompanions

The madness of March is upon us, and no one is mor
The madness of March is upon us, and no one is more excited than Dr. Wynn's pup Ellie! Time to enjoy the thrilling upsets, highlights, and excitement of college basketball season🏀💙 #GoCats
.
.
.
Comment below on how far you think UK will go this year!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #march #ukbasketball #basketball #tournament #mensbasketball #MarchMadness #gobigblue #kentuckybasketball #weareuk #lexington #lexky #kentucky #championship

Breezy Fresh and Brulee Love are Weimaraners. They
Breezy Fresh and Brulee Love are Weimaraners. They think the vet doesn't seem as scary if your sibling can come too!
.
.
.
Tag a sibling below that comforts you!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #veterinaryclinic #comfort #twins #sibing #Weimaraners #love #besties #lexington #lex #lexky

Meet our Adoption Spotlight pet of the week, Biscu
Meet our Adoption Spotlight pet of the week, Biscuit! This Domestic Shorthair mix is available for adoption at the @lexingtonhumane - our adoption partner! 
.
.
.
Adopt a pet from LHS and get a complimentary wellness exam!
.
.
.
#richmondroadvet #rrvc #vetclinic #richmondroadvetclinic #adoptionspotlight #adoption #wellnesscheck #complimentary #lexhuamnesociety #lexington #lex #lexky #humane #humanesociety


Load More…



Follow on Instagram


© 2023 Richmond Road Veterinary Clinic | All Rights Reserved | Design & Developed by Click Canyon LLC.
Existing Client Boarding
  • Careers
  • Contact Us