Don't Go Breaking My Heart(worm)
Susanna Burgett, LVT • April 11, 2025
Heartwoms Hit Hard: What Every Pet Owner Should Know
April is Heartworm Awareness Month, and here at Southpaw Animal Clinic of Madison, we are all about protecting your pets from preventable pain. Heartworm disease is a serious, potentially fatal condition, that can cost thousands of dollars to treat--but the good news is, it is almost 100% preventable with proper care and consistent protection.
So let's dive into what heartworm disease is, why it matters, and how you can keep your furry friend safe.
What Is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm--Dirofilaria immitis--that's spread through the bit of an infected mosquito. Once bitten, the immature larvae enter your pet's bloodstream and grow into adult worms that settle in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels. Left untreated, these worms can cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and organ damage.
Why It's So Serious (and So Common)
- Heartworm disease is both common and deadly. More than one million dogs in the U.S. are infected each year.
- It affects dogs in all 50 states--yes, even here in Madison, Alabama.
- Dogs with heartworms often show no symptoms until the disease is advanced, making regular testing critical.
- Symptoms can include coughing, fatigue, weight loss, decreased appetite, and a swollen abdomen due to fluid accumulation.
How Do Dogs Get It?
Simple answer: mosquitoes.
If you seen, swatted, or been bitten by a mosquito, that means your dog has been at risk too. And it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to pass on the larvae.
Prevention Is Easy. Treatment? Not So Much.
While heartworm disease can be treated, the process is expensive, time-consuming, and potentially hard on your dog. Treatment often includes months of restricted activity, multiple injections, and frequent veterinary visits.
Prevention, on the other hand, is:
- Affordable
- Safe
- Easy to administer (monthly chewables, topicals, or an injection every 12 months)
- Widely available through your veterinarian
At Southpaw Animal Clinic of Madison, we can dispense up to 12 months of prevention per pet, per year. We totally commend those of you trying to stay ahead and stock up--your dedication is awesome--but due to manufacturer regulations, we cannot fill early.
It's also important to note: heartworm prevention is only guaranteed by the manufacturer for the pet it is prescribed to. That means the prescription must be written specifically for your pet--we can't legally or medically share doses between animals, even if they are the same size or species.
Don't Skip the Test!
All dogs 7 months and older should be tested before starting prevention. That's because heartworm preventatives work by killing early-stage larvae--not adult worms. Giving preventatives to a dog with an existing infection can cause severe complications.
Heartworm tests are quick, highly accurate, and a crucial part of responsible pet care. Here's what you should know:
- If you adopted a dog with an unknown medical history, get them tested right away.
- Even if the first test is negative, we recommend retesting in 6 months to confirm there is not an early infection. Why? because it takes 6-8 months for adults infections to show up on a heartworm test.
- Missed a dose? No shame--just let us know. Your pup should be retested 6 months later to make sure they stayed protected. A nominal fee compared to treatment.
Bonus Info: What About Cats and Other Pets?
Dogs aren't the only ones at risk--cats can get heartworms, too, although they're less common and harder to detect. There is no approved treatment for cats, which makes prevention even more critical.
We also recommend discussing prevention options for ferrets and other at-risk- pets with our staff.
Time for a Heart-to-Heart?
If your pet hasn't been tested recently or is overdue for their prevention, now's the time. We're here to help with:
- Heartworm testing
- Affordable prevention options
- Friendly reminders so you never miss a dose
At Southpaw Animal Clinic of Madison, we are all about keeping tails wagging and hearts strong--before there's a problem.
Give us a call
or book online
to schedule your pet's heartworm test today. Let's beat the buzz together.
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