{"id":22,"date":"2022-04-06T12:50:43","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T19:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orovilleanimalhealthcenter.com\/blog\/?p=22"},"modified":"2022-10-21T06:00:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T13:00:03","slug":"what-is-heartworm-and-how-can-you-prevent-it-in-your-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orovilleanimalhealthcenter.com\/blog\/what-is-heartworm-and-how-can-you-prevent-it-in-your-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Heartworm and How Can You Prevent It in Your Pet?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At Oroville Animal Health Center<\/a>, we believe that preventive care<\/a> is the cornerstone to overall health and wellness for your pet. Although heartworm disease is a serious medical concern for animals, it is also a very preventable condition. Keep reading to learn more about what heartworm actually is and how you can keep your pet safe from it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Heartworm: The Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite called the Dirofilaria immitis<\/a>, which can enter your pet\u2019s blood through a mosquito bite. These worms attack the heart, lungs, and respiratory system of otherwise healthy animals. They are particualry dangerous to dogs, cats, and ferrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heartworm Disease in Dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dogs are called a \u201cdefinitive host\u201d for heartworms because the parasites can complete an entire lifecycle of reaching adulthood, mating, and even reproducing inside a canine host. These worms can live inside of a dog for 5-7 years, and the females can grow up to 12 inches in length. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you see any of the following symptoms, you should schedule a visit with your veterinarian<\/a> to check for heartworm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n