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Heartworms are blood parasites that are transmitted by mosquitoes.
The "baby heartworms", called microfilaria, circulate in the bloodstream, maturing to adult worms in the heart and vessels of the lungs. The mature worms can cause permanent heart damage, leading to heart failure. All dogs are at risk. Heartworms can be detected with a simple blood test.
It is easy to prevent heartworms; once-a-month chewable heartworm preventatives are available that also protect against intestinal parasites. All puppies should be started on heartworm preventative at their fist visit. We recommend that heartworm preventative be given year-round due to Missouri's unpredictable winter temperatures and to continue the intestinal parasite protection.
A dog infected with heartworms can be treated, but permanent heart damage can occur and the treatment is costly. It is much simpler and less expensive to prevent them from occurring.
Cats can be infected with heartworms, but it occurs less frequently than in dogs.
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