What are heartworms?
Heartworms are large worms that live in the actual hearts of dogs and cats. They are also found in ferrets, foxes, wolves, sea lions, and horses. Dogs are the most common host for this parasite. This worm, also known as Dirofilaria Immitis, is a long, spaghetti-like worm that is 6 to 10 inches long.
In addition to the animal 'host', heartworms need a mosquito to complete their life cycle.
- A mosquito bites a heartworm-infected animal.
- The mosquito is then carrying microscopic versions of the heartworm, called microfilariae.
- When the mosquito bites another dog or cat, that animal is now infected with the heartworm microfilariae.
- In 70-90 days, the microfilariae make it through the animal's tissues to the heart, where they reproduce (providing both male and female worms are present) and live for several years. If both sexes of worms are present, they will be producing their own little microfilariae within 6 - 7 months after that mosquito bite abd the cycle continues.
What are the signs of heartworm disease?
The signs vary according to number of worms present, stage of life cycle, age and species of host. The heartworms live primarily in the right side of the heart and lung,...
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges pet owners who shop for prescription pet medicines online to make sure they remain A.W.A.R.E. of exactly what they are buying.
There is no foolproof way to tell if an online pharmacy is legal, according to the FDA.
To help pet owners protect their pets, the agency provides the following guidelines:
A – Ask your veterinarian.
Before buying online, talk with a veterinarian. Some questions the FDA suggests are: “Do you trust the internet pharmacy site?”, “Have you ever worked with the company?”, and “Have other clients used that site?” If any of the answers are “yes,” what were the veterinarian’s experiences?
W- Watch for red flags.
Some warning signs the FDA points out include: the site does not require veterinary prescriptions for prescription drug orders; the site has no licensed pharmacist available to answer questions; the site does not list physical business address, phone number or other contact information, the site is not U.S.-based; the site is not licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy where the business is based; the site does not protect your personal information.
A – Always check for site accreditation.
In 2009, the...
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