Veterinary Heartworm Prevention and Treatment

Heartworms are a parasite that grows and lives inside the heart and pulmonary artery. Heartworms mainly attack dogs but can also affect cats. A simple bite from a mosquito can lead to your pet being infected with heartworms. That's why it is crucial to protect your pet from heartworms by bringing him or her to us at Unleashed Pet Care in Westland. We can help your pet with heartworm prevention and treat the disease in the unfortunate case that your pet does get it.

Symptoms of Heartworms

If your cat or dog is infected with heartworms, he or she may become extremely lethargic. You will notice that basic things like walking to the food and drink bowl are challenging for your pet. The more time the heartworms have been in the pet's system, the harder it is for that pet to breathe. Extreme weight loss is another obvious sign. Your pet's appetite reduces as the condition worsens, causing excessive weight loss in a short amount of time. Your cat or dog's heartworm symptoms can be hard to tell by the naked eye. That's why it is essential to get your pet checked out by our experienced team.

Treatment

Proper preventative treatment for heartworms cannot be done at home. It takes our veterinarians' help to prescribe the right treatment to kill off adult and juvenile worms. Blood tests and X-rays may be needed to better understand the severity of your pet's heartworms. In extreme cases, an operation may be required. Heartworm treatment can be costly. It's better for both you and your cat or dog that you prevent heartworms from ever being an issue.

Prevention

Heartworm preventives for your cat or dog may be monthly chewable pills or vaccinations given every 6 or 12 months. Some treatments only prevent heartworms, while others protect pets from heartworms and intestinal parasites. Our team will work with you and your pet to find the right preventative medicine. Prevention of heartworms is never 100%. The best route is to ensure that your pet has regular check-up appointments with our team. This allows our veterinarians to detect juvenile heartworms within the system and prescribe the right protocols to kill them off before they become adults.

Contact Us for a Pet Exam in Livonia, MI

We hope that your dog or cat never has to deal with heartworms. That's why our team is here to provide quality preventative treatment for your pet. Here at Unleashed Pet Care in Westland, we help patients suffering from heartworms with expert medical attention. Whether your pet needs an annual exam, vaccines, or other health treatments, our team is here for both of you. Contact us by requesting an appointment online or calling us at (734) 469-2800 to see how our veterinarians can help your pet stay safe from heartworms.