Common Myths About Heartworms Debunked

Believing the myths about heartworm disease is potentially fatal for your dog.

Heartworm disease is very serious, and if left untreated, it can be fatal. Luckily it is completely preventable! That being said, there are many dangerous myths out there surrounding heartworms that lull pet owners into a false sense of security. Being undereducated about heartworm disease is dangerous for your dog, which is why our veterinary clinic in Levittown has come up with the following list of common myths about heartworms:

Myth #1 – Heartworm disease only affects dogs in the south.

Although it’s true that dogs in the south are diagnosed with heartworm disease more often, dogs in all 50 states have been diagnosed with heartworm disease and that includes Hawaii and Alaska.

Myth #2 – A dog that is up to date on vaccines doesn’t need a heartworm preventative.

Dogs can be vaccinated against many different things, but unfortunately, heartworm disease isn’t one of them. The best (and only) way to keep your dog protected from heartworm disease is by getting them tested annually and giving them their monthly preventative heartworm medication.

Myth #3 – Dogs are only at risk for heartworm disease in the spring and summer.

It’s true that many mosquitos will die off during the cold months of the fall and winter, they can come back quickly during rainy warm periods. All it takes is one mosquito bite, so why risk it?

These are just a few of the many dangerous myths out there surrounding heartworm disease. If you would like to learn more, please stay tuned for our next blog!

In our last blog, our veterinarian in North Merrick debunked a few of the most common myths about heartworms. To recap, we’ve already talked about the myth that heartworm disease only affects dogs in the south, the myth that heartworm disease is only a problem in the spring and fall and the myth that vaccinated dogs are already protected against heartworm disease. The following is a few more dangerous and common myths about heartworm disease:

Myth #4 – A dog can catch heartworm disease from another dog.

Heartworm disease can’t be transmitted between dogs, and the only way for a dog to get it is through a mosquito.

Myth #5 – The symptoms of heartworm disease are obvious and easy to spot. 

Heartworm disease is so dangerous because the clinical signs don’t become evident until the disease has already reached its later stages. It generally takes about 6 months for the heartworm larvae to travel to a dog’s lungs and heart, at which point symptoms like, weight loss, difficulty breathing and coughing, will start to occur.

Myth #6 – Heartworm disease isn’t usually fatal.

If left untreated, a single heartworm can quickly multiply up to 100 times, and each one of those heartworms can grow to approximately 12 inches long. These heartworms can limit a dog’s ability to breath and block their blood flow. Dogs, just like people, can’t live without adequate oxygen or blood flow.

Myth #7 – Heartworm disease is easily treated.

Heartworm disease is risky, traumatic and very expensive to treat. To treat heartworms, dogs are injected with an arsenic-based medication that is designed to kill the heartworms that are in the dog’s heart and lungs. Heartworm disease is much easier to prevent than it is to treat.