Emergency Vet Closest to Me: Heartworm Awareness – Why Prevention Is Better Than Treatment

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that affects dogs, cats, and other pets. Transmitted through mosquito bites, heartworms grow inside an animal’s heart and lungs, leading to severe organ damage. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear, the disease is often advanced and difficult to treat. That’s why prevention is always better than treatment.

If you suspect your pet may have heartworms, searching for emergency vet closest to me can help you find urgent medical care.

For pet owners in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Intercity Animal Emergency Clinic provides 24/7 emergency treatment for heartworm-related complications.

What Is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasite spread by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a pet, it transmits microscopic larvae (microfilariae) into the bloodstream. Over six months, these larvae mature into adult heartworms that can grow up to twelve inches long, blocking blood flow and damaging vital organs.

• Dogs are the most common hosts—heartworms can live five to seven years in a dog’s heart and lungs.
• Cats are less susceptible but still at risk. Even immature heartworms can cause respiratory distress and sudden death in cats.

Why Prevention Is Better Than Treatment

Treating heartworm disease is costly, painful, and risky for your pet. In contrast, preventative medication is safe, affordable, and highly effective.

Treatment Is Expensive and Lengthy

• Heartworm treatment for dogs involves multiple injections of melarsomine, a strong arsenic-based drug that requires strict rest for several months.
• Cats cannot be treated with melarsomine—veterinarians can only manage symptoms.

Treatment Is Hard on Your Pet’s Body

• The die-off of adult heartworms during treatment can cause serious complications like blood clots and lung inflammation.
• Pets undergoing treatment must have limited exercise for six to eight months to prevent complications.

Prevention Is Nearly 100% Effective

• Monthly chewable tablets, topical solutions, or injections can prevent infection before it starts.
• Many preventatives also protect against intestinal parasites like hookworms and roundworms.

How Do Pets Get Heartworms?

1. A mosquito bites an infected animal and picks up heartworm larvae (microfilariae).
2. The mosquito bites your pet, transmitting the larvae into their bloodstream. The larvae travel to the heart and lungs, maturing into adult worms over six months.
3. The adult worms multiply, causing heart failure, lung disease, and organ damage.

Dogs can carry hundreds of worms at once. Cats may have fewer worms, but even one can be deadly.

Signs of Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease progresses silently in the early stages, making routine vet checkups crucial.

In Dogs
• Mild cough that worsens over time
• Fatigue after mild activity
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Swollen belly from fluid buildup
• Difficulty breathing

Severe cases can lead to heart failure and sudden collapse.

In Cats
• Coughing or asthma-like symptoms
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Sudden death, even without symptoms

How to Prevent Heartworm Disease

Give monthly preventatives

• Available as chewables, topical treatments, or injections.
• Protect against other parasites like hookworms and roundworms.

Annual vet checkups and testing

• Heartworm tests detect infections before symptoms appear.
• Even if your pet is on preventatives, testing ensures full protection.

Reduce mosquito exposure

• Keep pets indoors during peak mosquito hours, dawn and dusk.
• Use pet-safe mosquito repellents.

Treat and protect all pets in the household

• Even indoor cats can get heartworms from a single mosquito bite.

What to Do If Your Pet Has Heartworms

Step 1: Contact a veterinarian immediately

Search for emergency vet closest to me and call for urgent guidance.

Step 2: Diagnostic testing

he vet will perform:

• Blood tests to detect heartworm proteins in the bloodstream
• X-rays and ultrasound to check for lung and heart damage

Step 3: Treatment plan

• Dogs require a multi-step process including antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and melarsomine injections to kill adult worms.
• Cats do not have an approved treatment—only supportive care to manage symptoms.

Step 4: Strict rest and monitoring

• Dogs must be kept calm and inactive during treatment.
• Sudden movement can cause dead worms to block blood flow, leading to fatal complications.

When to Search for Emergency Vet Closest to Me

If your pet has trouble breathing, collapses, or shows signs of heartworm disease, seek emergency care immediately.

For those in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Intercity Animal Emergency Clinic offers expert heartworm testing, prevention, and treatment.

By choosing prevention over treatment, you can save money, avoid unnecessary suffering, and protect your pet’s life. If you ever need urgent care, don’t hesitate to search for emergency vet closest to me to find the best help for your pet.