MALTEPOOCOM

Thanks to veterinary research, there are now medications and procedures that have improved the treatment of this disease.  Like many other diseases, early detection and treatment can lead to a successful cure. Diagnostic test and medications to prevent heartworm disease from occurring at all is inexpensive and available from your veterinarian.  However, before your dog can be placed on preventative medications, your veterinarian may request a heartworm screening test.  This is in order to detect the presence of heartworm disease that may already be infecting your pet. Without knowing it, your dog may already be infected.  Therefore it is vital that in dogs six months and older have a blood test prior to starting them on the monthly preventative.  Severe or fatal reactions may occur if preventatives are given to dogs that have heartworm disease.  If the dog has been to a known heartworm problem area, your vet may  recommend additional tests.  Other testing methods may include a complete blood count (CBC), organ function profile, or x-rays.  If the disease is detected, these tests can also help determine the degree of infection. 

Treatment for heartworm disease can be risky and expensive.  That is why year round prevention is so very important.  If a pet does get heartworm disease and survives-it is not immune and will still need to be placed on a monthly preventative.  It needs to be done, better to do it now before your pet ever gets sick! 
If your dog is like ours, your pet will love the taste of it.  In our house, it is more of a treat for our dogs rather than a hassle. (Note: since it is so tasty, keep it out of your pet's reach).
 

***  Please follow the advice of your pet's veterinarian over and above any advice given here. This information is unprofessional advice and should not replace that of your veterinarian.  ***