Heartworm disease often feels like a distant threat until you understand how it begins. Heartworm starts with a single mosquito bite. What seems like a small nuisance can turn into a life-threatening condition if heartworm prevention isn’t in place. For National Heartworm Awareness Month at Dr. Jean A Fromm, DVM P.C., our veterinary clinic wants pet owners to understand the heartworm lifecycle so you can see just how crucial prevention really is for cats and dogs.
How is Heartworm Spread to Pets?
The story begins when a mosquito bites an infected animal and picks up tiny heartworm larvae called microfilariae. Over the next couple of weeks, those larvae develop inside the mosquito into their infectious stage. When that same mosquito bites your pet, it delivers the larvae into their bloodstream, starting the clock on a dangerous chain reaction.
After entering your pet’s body, the heartworm larvae begin a slow journey through the bloodstream. Over several months, they travel toward the heart and the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. Once they settle in, these larvae start to grow into adult worms, feeding off your pet’s blood supply and preparing to reproduce. Adult worms can reach up to 12 inches long, and they don’t just stop at one worm.
In dogs—considered a natural host—adult heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years, producing hundreds of baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream and continue the cycle when another mosquito bites your pet. In cats, the worms don’t reproduce as successfully, but their presence can still cause severe inflammation and respiratory distress. Even immature worms can trigger life-threatening complications.
The Damage Heartworms Cause
As the heartworms grow and multiply, they clog blood vessels, restrict blood flow, and damage vital organs. The impact worsens over time, and heartworm symptoms can include:
- Breathing problems
- Persistent coughing
- Lethargy and exercise intolerance
- Heart failure
- Organ damage
- Sudden collapse or death (especially in cats)
What’s frightening is that the effects of heartworm disease often go unnoticed until the damage is advanced.
Heartworm Disease Prevention: Stop the Cycle Before It Starts
The good news? Heartworm disease is preventable. Preventative medications work by eliminating larvae before they have a chance to mature. With monthly doses, you can effectively break the lifecycle and protect your pet. There are also 6-month or 12-month heartworm injections available for dogs.
Your pet should be on routine prevention all year, and dogs should also get a heartworm test annually. A heartworm test confirms that prevention is working properly and no gaps in protection have occurred. This combination of prevention and testing provides full-circle protection for canines. If you have a cat, talk to your veterinarian about whether they recommend any kind of heartworm testing and how often.
Keep Your Pet from Getting Heartworm in Grand Junction
Understanding the lifecycle of heartworms shows us how silent but aggressive this disease can be. By stopping heartworm disease early with prevention and regular testing, you’ll give your pet the defense they deserve. At the veterinary clinic of Dr. Jean A Fromm, DVM P.C., we want all of our pet patients to be heartworm-free. If you live in Grand Junction, Clifton, Palisade, or the surrounding areas, book an appointment for a heartworm test and parasite prevention consultation today!
