Living in Florida, we all know what a nuisance mosquitoes can be for humans. But did you realize that they can actually be deadly to your dog? It’s true! Those pesky little misquotes that buzz around and annoy us are actually responsible for transmitting the heartworm larvae!

Heartworms in dogs live in and grow in the right side of their heart and can also infiltrate the large blood vessels. While they are busy doing that, their larvae are floating around in the dog’s blood, and when a mosquito bites an infected dog, it becomes a carrier and transmitter of the disease. When they bite the next dog, they inject the dog with the Dirofilaria immitis, or heartworms.

In the United States, heartworms have been identified since 1847, and pet owners of cats, dogs, and other animals have been trying to prevent them ever since. Once a dog gets heartworms, it can lead to large blood vessel obstructions. Many dogs never show any symptoms that they have heartworms living in their heart, but some may have a decreased appetite or an unexplained weight loss.

As veterinarians, we have several options for testing for heartworms in dogs, including blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, and antigen testing. There is medication that can help eliminate the heartworms, if they are discovered in time. The best defense against heartworms in dogs is prevention. To help keep your dog healthy and free of heartworms, there are a variety of medications that your veterinarian can prescribe.

In the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach area, our veterinarians are experts at helping to prevent and address heartworms in dogs. Contact us to arrange for a consultation or with any questions you may have. We have the information, expertise, and tools you need to keep your dog heartworm free and healthy!