It has been reported that more than a million dogs in the United States have heartworms. And yet the subject of heartworms isn’t a conversation we hear much about.
April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, the aim of which is to inform and educate dog owners about this horrible disease and will hopefully change that.
If you are a dog owner, it might pay to test what you know about heartworms in dogs.
Don’t have time to test your knowledge, click here: Heartworms in Dogs – Symptoms and Treatments
True or False?
My dog can get heartworms from playing with another dog that has them.
False: Heartworms can only be spread between pets through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Getting heartworm disease isn’t a concern for my cat
False: Not only can cats die from heartworm infections, but there is also NO approved treatment if they become infected.
Heartworms mate inside infected dogs.
True: Mature heartworms living in the pulmonary arteries of dogs mate and reproduce there.
Heartworm treatment costs about the same as prevention.
False: A year’s worth of heartworm prevention costs a fraction of the cost of treatment
Heartworm disease threatens pets nationwide.
True: Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states.
Heartworms live up to 6 months in dogs.
False: Heartworms can live for up to 3 years in cats and up to 7 years in dogs.
Once dogs have been treated for heartworm infections, they’re immune to future infection.
False: Dogs can become infected over and over if they aren’t put on heartworm prevention.
The American Heartwork Society recommends year-round prevention against heartworms for dogs, cats, and ferrets.
True: Because heartworm “season” is so difficult to predict, year-round prevention is the best option for pets.
Protect your dog from heartworm 12 months a year.
Test for heartworm every 12 months!
The content of this page is an adaption of the American Heartworm Society Test Your Heartworm Knowledge infographic.
For More Information About Heartworms in Dogs
See my article titled Heartworms in Dogs – Symptoms and Treatment or visit the website of the American Heartworm Society.
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