There are so many dangerous myths out there about heartworm disease.
Heartworm is an incredibly serious disease, and it’s important for pet owners to take it seriously and take steps to prevent their pet from contracting it. However, there are many myths out there that can mislead pet owners and put their pets at risk. In our last blog, our animal hospital in Carroll Gardens set out to debunk the most common myths about heartworm. Keep reading to learn the truth about a few more myths.
Myth #6. You can use natural remedies to prevent heartworm.
There are lots of great ways to reduce your pet’s risk of heartworm naturally by reducing their risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes. Things, like eliminating standing water and using pet-safe insecticides and repellents, can help to keep your pet safe. However, none of these things can prevent your pet from getting infected with heartworm disease if they do get bit. According to the experts, avoidance and repellents are excellent additions to preventatives, but they should not replace them.
Myth #7. Heartworm disease is contagious.
Heartworm disease cannot be spread from pet to pet or from pet to person. So if you’re worried that your pet will get heartworm by hanging around another pet that has been diagnosed, don’t be. Heartworm disease also cannot be transmitted to humans from our pets. The only way that pets get heartworm disease is when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. If the pet who has been bitten is not on a heartworm preventative, the heartworm larvae will multiply and mature, eventually damaging the lungs and heart.
Myth #8. Heartworm prevention is too expensive and inconvenient.
When it comes to heartworm disease, you’ll find that prevention is a much more cost-effective method than treatment. Depending on the brand of preventative you use, you’ll probably only have to pay between five and 15 dollars per month, and you’ll be doing your part to protect your pet’s quality of life. Heartworm treatment, on the other hand, can cost up to 10 times the cost of heartworm preventative for an entire year. And, as far as convenience goes, giving your pet a heartworm preventative doesn’t have to be time-consuming. You can give your pet a monthly chewable, and there are even bi-annual injections available as well.
Myth #9. Only pets who live in the south need heartworm preventative.
When people think of mosquitoes, they often think of humid southern states, like Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas, but the reality is that mosquitoes exist throughout the whole of the United States. What’s even more surprising is that mosquitoes are actually quite common in big cities. In fact, New York City is listed as one of the top 20 worst cities in the United States for mosquitoes. Here in Carroll Gardens, it’s essential that your pet is on a heartworm preventative, and that’s true no matter where you live.
Myth #10. It’s okay to skip doses of preventative every once in a while.
Myth #10. It’s okay to skip doses of preventative every once in a while.Most people think that heartworm disease prevents a pet from being infected with heartworm disease, but in all actuality, it works by killing and eliminating the larvae after a pet is infected, preventing it from developing into adult heartworms. It only takes about 51 days for heartworm larvae to reach maturity, and by that point, they cannot be effectively eliminated with preventative medications. It’s incredibly important to always ensure that you give your pet their heartworm medication on time every month because late or missed dose could give the larvae enough time to fully mature.
Stop believing the myths about heartworm disease and start taking the appropriate steps to keep your pet healthy. Schedule your appointment with The Vet Set today!