Heartworm disease is a devastating parasitic infection that can lead to heart failure, lung disease, and other organ damage in affected pets. The bad news is that heartworms are rampant in hot climates like Florida’s; the good news for Odessa pet owners is that heartworm disease is entirely preventable.

Since April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, this is the perfect time to remind Odessa pet owners and all animal lovers about the importance of year-round heartworm prevention. Read on for valuable information from our team at Caring Paws Animal Hospital about protecting your pets from heartworm disease.

Heartworm disease is one of the worst parasitic infections your pet can get. Unfortunately, it’s very common in the southern and southeastern United States, including Florida. Spread via mosquito bite, heartworm can affect dogs, cats, and ferrets, but the disease is most dangerous for dogs. That’s because dogs are a definitive host for heartworms. The worms can complete entire life cycles and reproduce inside a dog’s body. 

All it takes is a single mosquito bite for your dog to be infected with this devastating parasite. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to prevent heartworm. The team at Caring Paws Animal Hospital would like to share our top heartworm prevention tips for dogs and cats.