Is Heartworm Contagious in Dogs & Cats

Heartworm disease is widespread in the US and is often a problem for cats and dogs, though less often. An insect bite can bite your pet or pet. When a mosquito bites your pet’s skin, young heartworms that live in the mosquito’s body move into your pet’s bloodstream. Adults begin to reproduce after 6-12 months, being in the heart of your pet’s lungs.

Cats and dogs cannot transmit heartworms directly to each other. A mosquito must bite an infected animal and then bite another uninfected animal within 10-14 days for transmission to occur. If, for instance, the dog you are playing with is heartworm-positive, one pet can’t transmit an infection caused by heartworm to another pet. If your neighbor’s dog has a heartworm infection, there is a chance that a mosquito may spread heartworm in time.

Heartworm Infections Are Preventable

The positive side is that heartworms can be prevented easily. There are drugs available orally or topically every month which kill the heartworms that are still immature and present in your pet’s blood. These prevent the worms from maturing and creating an online shop inside the lungs and heart of your pet. I prefer using Ivermectin-based medications, such as Heartgard, because they are extremely secure and swiftly cleared from the body. I suggest speaking with your local vet to find the most secure and safe treatment for your specific region.

Testing For Heartworms

The vet will perform an easy blood test to check the pet’s heartworm levels. This test can find adult heartworms. It is recommended to test your pet every year to ensure that your pet’s health has not been diagnosed with the disease.

Heartworms In Cats

Cats are more likely to be diagnosed with heartworm infections than dogs. This is because cats appear to be able to fight infections more efficiently. However, heartworm diseases are more difficult to identify in cats, accompanied by fewer signs. This means veterinarians may have missed several of these illnesses. The veterinarian in your area can tell you whether your cat will get heartworm protection.

If you have any questions regarding heartworm prevention for your pet suffering from heartworm, I’d like to hear from you! Comment below!