My neighbour’s dog Spike died last month of heartworm disease. What exactly causes this? Is it contagious and should I be worried about my own two pets?
Heartworm disease is one of the most serious, debilitating and potentially fatal conditions that can befall a dog in the Cayman Islands
It is caused by a long, slender worm, Dirofilaria immitis, which lives in the heart and adjoining blood vessels. Damage to the heart, lungs and other major organs can occur before there are any visible signs of illness and so many owners don’t even realize their pet has a problem until the disease is well advanced.
Heartworms are transmitted from dog to dog by mosquito bites. Because Cayman has a lot of mosquitoes year round, just one infected dog can become the source of infection for the whole neighborhood.
Dogs that are infected by the worms suffer from exercise intolerance, restlessness, anorexia, weight loss and usually develop a bad cough.
If the dog is not treated promptly the worms will damage the heart and the dog will die.
Heartworm disease can be diagnosed by a simple blood test at your local veterinary hospital. However, treatment can be risky so, prevention is by and large the best way to go – and it’s so easy!
A beef flavoured chewable tablet such as HeartGard® can be given orally once monthly to your dog. The medication is 100 percent effective in preventing the infection and will provide you with the peace of mind that your dog is being protected from this deadly parasite.
To summarize, if a dog lives in Cayman and is not on a heartworm preventative, it is guaranteed to contract the disease. Considering this fact, if someone feels they do not have the time, money or inclination for heartworm prevention, then perhaps they should not own a dog.
Cats can get heartworm disease too (remember, it only takes just one mosquito bite).
Although it is seen to a lesser degree in cats than dogs, if they contract the disease, there is no treatment. Cats can be given a heartworm preventive such as HeartGard® too, also once monthly.
Prevention is the key for a happy and healthy pet. So yes, you should be worried about your own pets – it is a necessity for every dog owner in Cayman to be aware of this problem, to take it seriously, and to take steps to ensure their pet is not its next victim.
Be a smart, responsible owner – put your pet on a preventative now, before it’s too late.
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