Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease affecting pets in many parts of the United States. Here in the panhandle of Florida, mosquitoes are a major factor in the spread of heartworms. Mosquitoes bite infected animals and spread the heartworm larvae when they move on and bite their next host.
These larvae can grow to be foot-long worms that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of infected animals. Heartworms can cause heart failure, lung disease, and damage to other organs. It is a serious, progressive disease, but the earlier it is detected, the better the chances that your pet will recover.
The expert doctors at Crawfordville Animal Hospital will test your companion pet for heartworms using a small blood sample. If the test for your dog comes back negative, you will be instructed to use a preventive treatment that you will need to administer year-round for the rest of your pet’s life. If your dog tests positive for heartworms, then the doctor may perform additional testing before determining a treatment plan.