Protect Your Dog or Cat from Heartworm Disease

Protect Your Dog or Cat from Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is an inescapable disease having been reported all across the U.S. Our staff at Rush Animal Care in Johnston specializes in heartworm treatment and prevention to help keep your pet healthy. The culprits behind this disease are thin foot long worms that infect the heart, the lungs and blood vessels of the infected animal. This often results in heart failure, lung disease as well as damaging other nearby organs too. There also is no veterinary treatment for heartworm in cats so protection and prevention is the key.

Knowing the Signs and Symptoms

The main problem with knowing the signs and symptoms is they usually do not manifest in cats or dogs until the disease has progressed to the late stage. Trying to catch heartworm disease in its early stages can be hard. Here are a few signs to look out in both cats and dogs

  • Constant cough

  • Becoming less active

  • Decreasing appetite followed by noticeable weight loss

  • Swollen belly (due to the onset of heart failure.)

Sadly though, the symptoms do not typically appear in cats until it is too late to provide care.

Protection and Prevention

For dogs prevention can be started as early as 7 months, even younger no testing required because if infected, it takes 5 to 7 months to show positive result signs. If a dog is older and not on preventive medication he should be tested first then put on preventive medication. When even on preventive medication yearly testing should be done for the disease because it is not 100% foolproof. For cats’ tests are done using an antigen and an antibody to detect any larvae in the cat. X-rays are also a tool used. All cats are recommended to be tested before placed on any preventative plan. 

Schedule an Appointment Today!

When it comes to caring for your pet, visit one of our prominent veterinarians at Rush Animal Care. We service the Johnston area specializing in all your pet vet needs from wellness checks to tick prevention. You can call us at 515-270-2240 to schedule an appointment today!

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday

7:30 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday

7:30 am - 6:30 pm

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

7:30 am - 6:30 pm

Friday

7:30 am - 5:30 pm

Saturday

8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Monday
7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Tuesday
7:30 am - 6:30 pm
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
7:30 am - 6:30 pm
Friday
7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Saturday
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Sunday
Closed

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