Why heartworm prevention is essential for your dog’s health

As dog owners, we all want our dogs to live long, happy, and healthy lives. We make sure they get plenty of exercise, the right training, and lots of love. But there’s one area of care that’s often overlooked—heartworm prevention. Heartworm disease may not be something you think about every day, but it’s a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that’s entirely preventable.

What is heartworm disease?

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. It’s spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. When a mosquito carrying microscopic larvae bites your dog, those larvae can enter the bloodstream and begin to grow. Over several months, they develop into adult worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. A dog can end up with dozens or hundreds of worms, which can cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs. If left untreated, heartworm disease can be fatal.

How dogs get infected

The only way a dog can get heartworm is through a mosquito bite. This might seem like a small risk, especially if your dog spends most of their time indoors or you don’t live in a hot, humid area. But mosquitoes are sneaky. They can find their way inside homes, cars, and even kennels. Because of climate changes and increased travel, heartworm-carrying mosquitoes are now found in almost every part of the country. Even in areas where they weren’t common before. That means every dog is at risk, regardless of where you live or how often your dog is outside.

Why prevention is so important

Treating heartworm disease is not only expensive, but it’s also physically taxing on your dog. The treatment involves strong medications and strict rest. No running, playing, or long walks for several weeks or even months. In some cases, surgery may be required. But here’s the good news. Heartworm disease is 100% preventable. There are several safe, effective, and easy-to-use options available. Giving your dog monthly heartworm prevention is far simpler and cheaper than going through treatment.

Heartworm prevention options

There are a few different ways to protect your dog from heartworms:

·      Monthly chewable tablets: These are the most popular choice and are often combined with flea and tick prevention. Some common brands include Heartgard, Interceptor, and Simparica Trio.

·      Topical treatments: Applied to the skin and absorbed into the body. These can also provide protection against other parasites.

·      Injectable prevention: A long-lasting option (ProHeart 6 or ProHeart 12) that your vet gives via injection. It can last 6 or 12 months, which is great if you have trouble remembering monthly doses.

Your vet can help you choose the best option based on your dog’s lifestyle, size, and health status.

When should you start?

Puppies can begin heartworm prevention as early as 6 to 8 weeks old, under a vet’s guidance. For adult dogs, prevention should be given year-round, not just in the warmer months. Many people assume they can stop giving the medication in winter, but mosquitoes can survive in warmer indoor environments, and missing even one dose could leave your dog unprotected. If your dog has missed a dose or hasn’t been on prevention, don’t panic. Just contact your vet. A quick heartworm test and updated prevention plan will get things back on track.

What are the signs of heartworm disease?

One of the most dangerous things about heartworm disease is that it can be hard to spot early on. In fact, many dogs show no symptoms until the worms have already done significant damage. Some signs you have to watch for are persistent coughing, fatigue or reluctance to exercise, decreased appetite, weight loss or a swollen belly. With severe cases it can cause collapse or sudden death.

This is another reason why regular vet checkups and year-round prevention are so important. Prevention eliminates the risk before symptoms ever appear.

Keeping your dog safe at Connecting K9

At Connecting K9, we care deeply about the health and well-being of every dog that walks through our doors. Whether they’re here for training, boarding, or just a quick hello. We recommend giving the dogs their heartworm prevention. If they need new heartworm prevention tablets, we can give them during their next mealtime. This way the dog won’t be exposed to the disease and we can help you keep the dog safe.

Keep your dog safe

Heartworm prevention may not seem urgent until it’s too late. But with just a little effort each month, you can protect your dog from a painful and life-threatening disease. Whether you choose a monthly chew, a topical, or an annual injection, the most important thing is staying consistent. Your dog depends on you to keep them safe. And that includes guarding their heart, quite literally. If you have questions about heartworm prevention or need guidance, we’re always here to help.