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"Dog Parasites (flea, Tick, Worms, Etc.)"
Dog Parasites (Flea, Tick, Worms, etc.): Page 12
of 26
Heartworms: 4 ways to protect your dog
Honestly speaking, there are only two ways in which you can
effectively prevent heartworms from attacking your dog and becoming a
problem. The first one is to never let any mosquito that carries
heartworm get inside your house and near your dog. The second is to
never let your dog go outside of your house, not in your yard, and
especially not during mosquito season.
These ideas would make sense if you lived in a brick house with no
doors and windows! They could also work if you have a dog that does
not enjoy playing and being outdoors and has no need to go outside.
But in reality, there is no sure way to keep your pet from being
bitten by a mosquito that carries heartworm. And because all dogs
love playing outside and sticking their noses everywhere, it is
essential for them to get proper care and sensible preventative
measures to ward off heartworm infestation.
Below are four suggestions you can apply that can reduce your dog's
risk of getting infested with heartworms:
1. Consult your vet about preventive medication from heartworms.
This way, even if your dog is bitten by a mosquito that is infected
with this parasite, the medication in his body will automatically
destroy the heartworms before they start to mature and cause illness.
Even though your dog does not like the outdoors, it is always possible
that a mosquito could slip in and stop for a bite. So even if your
dog is an indoor pet, it is wise to give him heartworm medication.
2. Before you administer the heartworm medication to your dog, make
sure that he is not already infected. It can be dangerous to give
heartworm preventive drugs to a dog that is already infected with the
parasite. Have your vet perform a blood test before prescribing the
medication. Make sure that your dog is not already infected, and then
he can start taking the medication. Keep in mind that it is possible
for some of the older tests for heartworm to be inaccurate. It is
always ideal to have your vet see your dog's record and decide if he
needs to have a newer and more accurate test before administering the
heartworm medication.
3. Since it is difficult to entirely keep mosquitoes away from you,
your house, and your dog, you can put up a tight-fitting door and
window screens to minimize their chance of getting in. You should
also replace or fix damaged screens as soon as you can.
4. If you have thought about putting up a birdhouse in your yard,
then you should consider getting a purple martin birdhouse. The
birdhouse will attract these hungry birds to your property where they
can eat thousands of mosquitoes per day and thus minimize the number
of mosquitoes, especially those infected with heartworms.
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Copyright 2006 by Jay Jennings. All rights reserved.
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