Pet heartworm testing, prevention & treatment
Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes. When a heartworm infected mosquito bites your dog, it injects heartworm larvae (immature worms) into your dog’s bloodstream. These larvae then travel to the heart where they mature into adult worms causing severe damage to the heart, lungs and liver. If left untreated, heartworm disease can be fatal.
HEARTWORM TESTING, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR DOGS
The good news is heartworms are easy to prevent. It’s as simple as giving your dog one pill once a month.
Ocean View Veterinary Hospital follows the American Heartworm Society guidelines for testing dogs and prevention. We recommend yearly heartworm testing and year round heartworm preventative. A heartworm test is a simple blood test. If your dog is not on heartworm preventative or has missed more than one month of prevention, he or she must be tested and must be negative in order to start heartworm prevention.
There are many heartworm preventatives available, please talk to one of our veterinarians about the best option for your dog. To make an appointment, call 609-486-5025.