Heartworm is silent but deadly killer of dogs and cats. The larvae of this parasite can only be transmitted to cats and dogs through the mite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito has to ingest the heartworm at the right stage of development in order for it to grow to its next stage from adolescence to adulthood. Once a dogs is infected with heartworm they grow and infiltrate the bloodstream. They must be adult heartworms in order to make it to the dog or cat's right heart ventricle. Then they start to grow and prolificate. Heartworms can exist and be growing inside a dogs heart and lungs and other internal organs for as long as 5-7 years.

The best way to treat heartworm in cats and dogs is to prevent it all together. There are several products on the market that prevent heartworm as well as other parasites such as ring and hook worms. It is best to do your own research to determine which brand or product you think is best for your pet.

Heartworm is so harmful to dogs mainly because they overload the heart and lungs as they grow. They can grow to lengths between 5 and 14 inches in length and increases to hundreds of heartworms infesting the heart. Eventually they clog up the dogs arteries so that they either have a heart attack or stroke.

Treatment for heartworm is dangerous because most of the most effective cures have arsenic in them. Curing a dog from heartworm is a miserable and difficult process for the dog. If hey survive the cure they will end up be healthier than when they were originally infected and never have to worry about being infected again. But, the problem is that if the dog or cat has not been diagnosed early enough, which is difficult, since there are few symptoms until it is too late, it is a very painful process for the dog. The best cure is to prevent it all together.

Administering preventives such as Heartguard and others protects dogs and cats from being infected with heartworm in the first place. And, annual blood tests should be done at least every two years if not annually to make sure your pets have not been infected. Do not give a preventive to a dog or cat that has not first been tested for heartworm infection or the preventive could kill them. It is very important to test annually or bi-annually and to give preventives every month to prevent your dog or cat from ever having to be threatened by this silent but deadly disease that can cause your pet to suffer unnecessarily. There are several comprehensive pet related website that provide more information regarding your pets' health issues. Just run a keyword search and check out many sources before you form your own opinion and decide upon your preferred method of treatment. Prevention is the best cure for keeping your beloved cat and dog companions healthy and safe. And remember, life is short, wag more, bark less!

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Deborah Brightstar-The Doggie Diva, owns and operates, Doggie Diva Pet Care, LLC, a licensed, bonded and insured, pet sitting business in Tucson, AZ, where she customizes her service with a, "We take care of your pets and home as if they were our own!" approach, providing the highest quality of care and service to all of her clients- people as well as furry, feathered or scaly. She shares her active and fun-filled life and her abundance of love with her two rescued greyhounds Kali and Dora and the love-of-her-life Pepper, her English Springer Spaniel and Pet Therapy partner. She enjoys writing about pet related topics and on a variety of other subjects in her spare time. For more information, visit her website at http://www.doggiedivapetcare.com