Heartworm is a disease passed by seventy species of mosquitoes. The larvae develops within the mosquito. When the mosquito bites the dog, it transfers the larvae into the dog’s body tissue. The larvae travels through the bloodstream and continues to develop within the right side of the heart and pulmonary arteries. They restrict blood flow and a blockage is formed. This leads to heart failure and liver or kidney damage. Symptoms of heartworm disease include cough, difficulty breathing, vomiting, weight loss, enlarged liver and abnormal lung or heart sounds. Treating dogs for heartworm disease can be lengthy, expensive and life threatening. It is important to know, that if your dog has not been tested, giving a heartworm preventative, may cause death.

CVS prefers performing a Heartworm test in March.
Prevention is key!!! Start your dogs on prevention once the test has been performed.