Heartworms In Pets Needs To Be Treated Monthly As A Preventative Measure
Heartworms in pets are transmitted through mosquito bites. This parasite can be deadly for both cats and dogs but, especially for cats. When the mosquito bites, it transfers the parasite larvae into the animal’s bloodstream and over the next few days they will hatch and grow and move toward the heart.
Once the larvae are in the blood, it days a few days for them to hatch and once they do, they will eventually get pumped through to the heart and lungs. The heart has deep chambers that the insects get caught in and start to feed on the muscle. They also get caught in the plethora of thin, folded and porous tissue of the lungs. This allows them to begin feeding and moving through the tissues. Unfortunately, this condition does not usually show itself until there are symptoms which indicates the infection has become fairly advanced.
If you observe a regular dry type of coughing from your dog, on a regular basis, this is a sign that you could very well be dealing with the parasitic infection, as this is usually the first symptom. It also means that the parasites have already found their way into the dog’s lungs. Their lungs are irritated by the circulating parasites causing the coughing. You may also notice that your dog has unusual breathing and that it becomes winded easily or has chest pain.
Your dog may show signs of extreme lethargy and start sleeping much more. They will often go off their food and not want to play or go for a walk. These are more sever signs and are indicative of the bodily system starting to shut down completely. There is nothing that your or your vet can do at this point which is why prevention is so very important.
Veterinarians are backed up by scientific evidence that regular, monthly administering of the drug Ivermectin is an effective treatment and prevention of parasitic infections. Vets and science also recommend the use of generic brands that sell these treatments. It has been proven that generic versions are just as effective as the name brands and cost much less.
When you first notice the coughing or perhaps other signs that your cat or dog has an infection, take them to the vet immediately. Ask your vet to tell you about the generic brands of the Ivermectin drug. They should be able to give a large amount of information on it and even give you a brand or two to try.
Now the development of parasites in your cat is a very different situation, because it is much harder to treat a cat for these worms. Unlike with a dog, if your vet succeeds in killing the already existing worms, the cat won’t recover. Dogs have a larger system that cats do, in general, which helps them to fight the parasites off. A dog’s larger sized heart and exceptionally good immune system, protects and revitalizes their systems quite readily.
The cats can still retain the symptoms of the infection such as a wheezing cough, a loss of consciousness, partial paralysis, and sometimes, sudden death. There is no really effective pet medicine to kill the parasite worms once the cat has them. So, the best treatment for heartworms in pets is prevention.
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