Dogs of all breeds and sizes are susceptible to heartworm infestations. The deadly parasites tend to infest our dogs’ hearts, lungs, and blood vessels subjecting them to severe infections. If not managed on time, heartworm infection can cause irreversible damage to your pooch’s organs that can also be fatal. If you’re a dog parent and want to know about the different types of heartworm prevention for dogs, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we will guide you through the various types of heartworm preventives for dogs to help you choose an appropriate one for your doggo.
Read on to find out more!
What is Heartworm Disease in Dogs?
Heartworm disease, also known as dirofilariasis, is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by Dirofilariaimmitis. The blood-borne parasites are transmitted to dogs by infected mosquitoes. If not prevented on time, heartworms can mature into adults and live in your dog’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels, causing severe inflammation and can also lead to heart failure.
How do Heartworms Cause Infection in Dogs?
When a mosquito bites a heartworm-infected animal, it picks up circulating microfilariae, or young and immature heartworms that develop into larvae inside the mosquito’s body over 10 to 14 days. The mosquito then bites a healthy dog and transmits the larvae into its body.The larvae further migrate through the dog’s tissues, enter the bloodstream, and mature into adult parasites in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels.
Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in Dogs
The following are the symptoms of heartworm disease in dogs.
Early Symptoms
- Mild, Persistent Cough
- Reluctant to Exercise
- Lethargy
- Disease Appetite & Weight loss
Advanced Symptoms
- Difficulty Breathing
- Fainting
- Bleeding from the Nose
- Severe Lethargy
- Heart Failure
Types of Heartworm Preventives
It is crucial to prevent heartworm disease, as prevention is far less expensive and doesn’t involve complex procedures that may not even be covered by your doggo’s health insurance.
The following are the different types of heartworm preventives that work well to protect dogs from the deadly infestations.
Oral Chewables
Heartworm preventives that come in the form of oral chews generally contain either ivermectin or milbemycin as their active ingredient. Most preventives not only kill heartworm larvae but also effectively eliminate fleas, ticks, and gastrointestinal worms such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. These formulas are designed for monthly use and should be given on the same day of each month.
Some of the most popular heartworm preventives for dogs include NexGard Spectra and Heartgard Plus for Dogs.
Spot-on Formulas
Spot-on heartworm preventives are designed for topical administration on the back of the dog’s neck or between its shoulder blades. Products containing selamectin as their active ingredient also help eliminate ear mites, mange mites, and certain tick species. The ones that have moxidectin and imidacloprid are also effective against fleas, hookworms, whipworms and roundworms.
Some of the widely chosen spot-on heartworm preventives include Revolution and Advantage Multi.
Injectable Preventives
Heartworm preventives that come in the form of injectable formulas are composed of moxidectin as their active ingredient. They are designed to protect your pooch against heartworm infestation for several months. They must be administered by your veterinarian or a trained veterinary staff member. Besides covering heartworms, these heartworm preventives also treat existing hookworm infections.
Wrapping Up
Heartworm prevention is important for all dogs to protect them from potentially fatal infections. By using year-round preventives, you can prevent the heartworm larvae from maturing and causing irreversible damage to your dog’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
At CanadaVetExpress, we offer a plethora of heartworm preventives for dogs at competitive prices. Visit our online store to enjoy lucrative deals on your preferred preventives and a range of other pet essentials.