INDUSTRY INSIGHT
PET HEALTH
SPONSORED CONTENT
PITTSBURGH VETERINARY SPECIALTY & EMERGENCY CENTER
HEARTWORM
AWARENESS MONTH
A
pril is heartworm awareness month and in preparation
for summer and the reappearance of the mosquito, this
is a good time to discuss this dreaded and completely
preventable disease and review the importance of making sure
your pet is protected from contracting a heartworm infection.
Heartworm infections have been reported in all 50 states
and the incidence is rising and spreading to new areas of the
country every year.
Heartworm disease is caused by
long thin worms called Dirofilaria
immitis that reside in the blood
vessels of the lungs of infected
animals and, if left untreated, can
lead to irreparable damage to the
lungs, heart and other organs in the
body. Although heartworms can reside in various mammalian
species such as wolves, foxes, coyotes, and even cats, dogs
are their natural and preferred hosts, and the most at risk.
Dogs have the ideal environment for the heartworms to
mature, reproduce, and become a source of infection for other
unprotected dogs.
So just how does this transmission occur?
Heartworm disease is not
spread by direct contact
between infected animals,
but rather it requires the
help of a mosquito. Mature
female worms res