Keep your pet happy, healthy, and heartworm-free this spring!
Canines have a set of diseases to deal with like parvo, kennel cough, Lyme disease, and heartworm disease that can be deadly if untreated. Heartworm disease in dogs is more common in the South; the national average of heartworm disease cases is 1.16%, according to Alternative Animal. Let’s keep it that way and get it even lower! Here are the best tips on how to prevent heartworm in dogs.
Schedule an Annual Heartworm Checkup
It can help to schedule a heartworm checkup with your veterinarian once a year to catch the disease early. Getting a checkup with the vet will help you prevent the deadly effects of the disease with the help of a professional.
Use Preventative Medicine
You can also use preventative medicine year-round. This type of medicine will need the prescription of a veterinarian. These treatments can be topical or oral. Although Maryland has only a moderate likelihood of getting any cases at all, it can be better to be safe than sorry.
Apply Mosquito Repellent for Dogs
You can also prevent heartworm in dogs is to spray your pet with a dog-safe mosquito repellent according to instructions. You can find commercial and natural mosquito repellents for dogs. You can also find homemade recipes online. Heartworms use mosquitos as a vessel to transfer their eggs to a host, such as a dog, fox, etc., so mosquito spray will be a direct way to deal with this risk.
Keep Your Pet Away from Mosquito-Infested Areas
In Maryland, it can be impossible to avoid mosquitoes in summer. They will start attacking you as soon as you step outside your front door. While you can use a pet-safe insect repellent for starters, you can also keep your dog away from mosquito-infested areas like stagnant pools of water.
Trust the Care of Your Pet to the Professionals at Everhart Veterinary Medicine!
At Everhart Veterinary Medicine, our veterinary professionals strive to provide your pet with the very best of veterinary care. We believe that the best care for your pet should be provided by experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable veterinary professionals. With three Maryland locations in Baltimore, Pasadena, and Cross Keys, we are always ready to welcome your pet as a new patient! Give us a call today at 410-355-3131, 410-793-7670, or 443-470-6790! For more information, as well as updates on veterinary news and topics, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!