It is a common misconception that indoor-only pets are not at risk of contracting heartworms. However, just as it is possible for a person to be bit by a mosquito while indoors, it is possible for an indoor-only pet to contract Heartworm Disease.
In humans, mosquitoes are the cause of serious diseases, like malaria, Zika Virus, and West Nile Virus. The threat of these diseases in humans in so scary because mosquitoes exist everywhere in the world - they exist on every continent, in every country. There is nowhere to hide from them.
Just like for humans, the threat of mosquitoes is as serious for companion animals. In cats and dogs, mosquitoes are the cause of Heartworm Disease. Heartworm Disease is a very serious parasite which infiltrates the heart - early symptoms can present as a mild cough, fatigue after exercise, and decreased appetite. Advanced symptoms are fluid in the abdomen, heart failure, and ultimately, death.
Unfortunately for cats, there is no treatment or cure for Heartworm Disease. For dogs, there are a couple of different treatment options, but they are highly risky, expensive, and treatment often involves injecting a toxic poison to kill the heartworms which have grown throughout the canine host. Some dogs do not survive this painful treatment for heartworms.
Fortunately, there is prevention against Heartworm Disease for both dogs and cats. Prevention options can be given topically to or ingested by your pet and is often given every 30 days. For dogs, testing is done every 12 months to verify that your pet does not have Heartworm Disease before the refilling of prevention - as it is possible, though not likely, for a dog to contract Heartworm Disease when on regular prevention. In some cases, manufacturers will help to pay for treatment of heartworms if a dog has consistently been on regular prevention which has been purchased through a reputable distributor - many manufacturers will void their warranties if their heartworm prevention is purchased through an online pharmacy.
Learn More About Heartworm Disease in Dogs and Cats by Clicking this Image