

#Pros and cons of heart pro 6 for heartworms prevention skin
For example, Heartgard is a heartworm medication for dogs that is given by mouth Revolution for cats is applied topically to the skin once a month. Several types of heartworm prevention medications are currently available. The seriousness of heartworm disease makes its prevention extremely important. Severe heartworm disease, which occurs when heartworms become so abundant that they block blood flow in the heart, is often fatal if left untreated. They also lose weight and are reluctant to exercise. Pets with heartworm disease have a mild and persistent cough and decreased appetite. The cycle begins again when the adult females release microfilaria. Within about six months, larvae mature into adult heartworms and live for several years in an animal’s heart, lungs, and major heart and lung blood vessels. Inside the mosquito, the microfilaria develop into infective larvae.Īn infected mosquito bites an animal and injects heartworm larvae into the bloodstream.


It helps to understand the heartworm life cycle:Īdult female heartworms within an infected animal’s body release baby heartworms called microfilaria into the bloodstream.Ī mosquito that bites the infected animal ingests the microfilaria. This is why it’s so important to stay current with heartworm prevention medicines. They will kill larval heartworms that have infected your dog before they become adult heartworms. Heartworm medication does not stop the infection from occurring, nor does it kill adult heartworms. Although both dogs and cats are affected by heartworms, dogs are most commonly affected. Heartworm disease is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease that is caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis, which is carried by mosquitoes.
