Happy Earth Day everyone!
April, in case you didn’t know, is heartworm awareness month. Heartworm is a deadly disease that affects both dogs and cats and is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Here are some things you should know about heartworm and how to protect your beloved pets from this dangerous illness:
- Heartworms enters the body in a larvae stage. They then make their way to the heart and lungs where they develop into mature worms
- A heartworm can reach up to 12 inches in length (gross)
- Heartworms do not affect humans
- Symptoms of heartworm include coughing and not wanting to exercise
- Monthly heartworm medication not only protects your pets against infected bites, but will kill any immature heartworms present in the body
- Cats are less susceptible to heartworm than dogs
- 25% of the feline heartworm cases occur in indoor cats
- There is no heartworm treatment for cats, just prevention. Dogs can be treated for heartworm, but it is a costly and difficult treatment
- Heartworm is present in all 50 states, but is most common on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
- Adult heartworms look like cooked spaghetti
- A heartworm blood test looks for and detects a protein in the blood that is produced by female heartworms
- Heartworms can live in the canine body for up to 7 years
- The first article covering heartworm was written in 1847 and published in the Western Journal of Medicine.
Heartworm is a serious illness that is easily prevented. If you are a pet owner, make sure to have your furry friend regularly tested for heartworm (as recommended by your veterinarian) and is given its monthly heartworm medication.
Mosquito-borne illness, including heartworm, West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever, is a growing concern in the United States. At Mosquito Squad, we help protect families from these dangerous pests with our mosquito control for the yard. Our protective mosquito mist is applied to the areas of your yard where mosquitoes are most likely to feed, breed and harbor, ridding the areas of mosquitoes before they can bite you. Our barrier treatment is available in both the standard and natural formula. The standard formula lasts up to 21 days and reduces your mosquito population by up to 90%. The natural option, in comparison, needs to be reapplied every 14 days and cuts the mosquito population by 85%.
If you have questions regarding Mosquito Squad and our mosquito control services, please reach out to your local Mosquito Squad office.