Heartworm Testing

Heartworms are parasites that invade an animal’s arteries and heart valves, where they reproduce. A major infestation can be very dangerous for animals, so preventive treatments are strongly recommended.

What are the symptoms of heartworm?

One of the reasons why heartworm is so dangerous is that the clinical signs don’t develop until very late. The first symptoms only start to appear once a large amount of worms are already present in the heart. At this stage, the animal may exhibit:

• Difficulty breathing
• Cough
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Generalized fatigue
  

What are the treatments for heartworm?

Heartworm treatments can be very hard on the animal. They can also be risky because of where the worms are located. Treatments must be administered gradually, under the close supervision of a veterinarian.

We recommend our clients use preventive treatments to spare their pets from heartworm and its complications. Parasite prevention treatments eliminate the larvae in the blood before they reach the worm stage.