Heartworm disease is a common illness here in Minnesota. It is carried by mosquitoes, and spread when an infected mosquito bites your pet. As the worms mature, they can block the blood vessels of the heart and lungs, causing both circulatory and respiratory disease such as difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, asthma like symptoms, blood clots, anemia, heart murmurs, irregular heart beats, high blood pressure, and thickening of heart muscles (hypertrophy). Infection can also cause protein loss through the kidneys, which over time can damage the kidneys. Lastly, it can be fatal. Treatment of heartworm disease involves a series of shots which are derived from arsenic. There is a lot of follow up and cost involved-multiple chest x-rays, medications to help prevent reactions to the arsenic and dying worms and anaphylactic shock, hospitalization, and follow up testing. Pets must be kept confined to a cage just large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down in for a couple of weeks. This to help prevent the pet from having a blood clot or piece of dying worm getting stuck in a blood vessel in the lungs, called a pulmonary thromboembolism or PTE. PTE can cause difficulty breathing and even death. Cats and ferrets cannot tolerate the arsenic compound used to treat heartworms, and […]
Providing the best possible veterinary care for your pet.
Heritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
