According to the American Heartworm Society, heartworm disease has been reported in all fifty states. As you may already know, potentially deadly heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, and it only takes one bite to infect a pet. Once infected, heartworms can do severe damage to a pet’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
Sadly, many animals don’t show symptoms until the disease is advanced. At that time, symptoms may include coughing, fatigue, weight loss, and a swollen abdomen. While cats are less likely to be susceptible to full-on heartworm infection, they can suffer from a heartworm-related respiratory condition that is very difficult to diagnose.
While there is heartworm treatment available for canines, it is expensive and can be very hard on your pet. There is currently no treatment for cats. As always, the best treatment is prevention! Our veterinarians advise keeping your pet on heartworm prevention year-round. Be advised if your dog has not previously been on heartworm prevention or has missed one or more doses of prevention, he or she will need a heartworm test before starting/restarting one.
Heartworm Prevention for Ferrets
Ferrets, like cats and dogs, are susceptible to heartworm disease, but this critical health risk is often overlooked. Unfortunately, treatment for heartworm disease in ferrets is rarely an option, making prevention essential. Protect your ferret with effective heartworm prevention to ensure they stay healthy and safe from this potentially fatal condition. Schedule an appointment online or call us at 248-220-7400.