Heartworm Testing

Annual exams and a preventative parasite plan are the best ways of reducing the risk of your pet developing a severe and potentially fatal disease, caused by heartworm. While intestinal parasites are relatively easy to treat, heartworm can be a different situation.

What are the symptoms of heartworms in a dog?

In the early stages of the disease, you often do not see any symptoms. As the condition becomes more advanced, you may see symptoms such as coughing, lethargy, inappetence and exercise intolerance. Some of these symptoms can also be signs of other conditions; this can make it harder to detect heartworm infection. Our veterinarians will recommend testing that will help us determine the correct cause of your dog’s symptoms.

How do dogs get heartworm?

Spread by mosquito bites, this parasite can migrate to the lungs and heart. Heartworm infections can lead to heart and organ disease and if left untreated, death.

What are the treatment options for heartworms?

Treatments for heartworm can become both costly and risky, so at our clinic, we focus on client education and prevention programs.