Heartworm disease is an infestation of threadlike, parasitic worms in the heart (as well as the lungs and blood vessels) that affects dogs.

If left untreated, heartworm disease will eventually cause:

• Severe lung issues and breathing difficulty
• Damage to other organs, like the liver and kidneys
• Heart failure, in extreme cases

As a result, it is crucial to test dogs for heartworm and treat immediately if heartworm is discovered. The longer heartworms live in your dog, the more damage they can do.

It’s hard to spot early signs of heartworm disease. That’s why it’s so important for your dog to be tested every single year. In the more advanced stages of the disease, symptoms include fatigue, labored breathing and coughing.⁴

If you see any of the following signs in your dog, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The short answer: mosquitoes. A single bite from an infected mosquito can put your dog at risk for developing heartworm disease.

Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 states. Climate differences and changes, as well as the presence of wildlife carriers cause infection rates to change dramatically every year. Most people don’t realize that infected mosquitoes can enter your house, so both outdoor and indoor pets are at risk.

Every case of heartworm disease is different. Your vet will develop a treatment plan specifically for your dog to advise you on aftercare.

Remember that as difficult as the 12-week restricted activity period might be for your dog, its much easier than restricting your dog for up to 2 years following the slow-kill therapy method.

• Replace Activity with Affection
  Snuggle up while you’re online, reading or watching TV.

• Keep Your Dog Away From Visitors
  Be conscious of both humans and animals. If they bark at outside activity, be sure to keep them away from windows.

• Give Them Plenty of Things to Chew
  A bored dog is sometimes a destructive dog. Durable chew toys can channel this behavior and help keep your confined dog happily occupied.

If you are afraid that your dog will struggle under these restrictions, ask your veterinarian about options for keeping them still and calm during this critical recovery phase.

About 6 months after the final Diroban treatment, your vet will perform a follow-up test to see if all the heartworms have been treated.

With a single mosquito bite, your dog can develop heartworm disease all over again. Give them heartworm prevention year-round to keep them protected.