Heartworm Disease Treatment and Prevention in Altamonte Springs

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Once inside your pet’s body, heartworm larvae mature into adult worms that live in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels where they cause progressive damage over time. Dogs are the primary host, meaning worms primarily mature and reproduce inside them. Cats can also be infected, though the disease presents differently and even a small number of worms can cause severe respiratory distress.

In dogs, early heartworm disease may show no symptoms at all, which is why annual testing is so important. As the disease progresses, symptoms include coughing, fatigue after mild exercise, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Severe cases can lead to heart failure. Because heartworm develops silently over months, pets can be significantly affected before owners notice anything is wrong.