Dogs are said to be one of the most loyal pets, and they have proven it every now and then. Hachiko’s story is very heartbreaking and beautiful; a dog so loyal to his owner that he waited 9 years for him to return after his passing away. Similarly, pet parents will go to any extent to keep their dogs healthy. Even then, there’s always a threat looming over one’s head; what if the dog gets infected with heartworms?
Heartworm is an extremely scary disease. The condition needs to be treated as soon as you diagnose it. Even a second of doubt can prove fatal to your pooch. Therefore, heartworm prevention treatments are advised so that people don’t have to bear the cost of treating the disease.
First, let’s learn about the life-cycle of Heartworm:
- A mosquito ingests microfilaria by biting an infected dog
- It develops into a larva within the mosquito (in 10 – 14 days)
- That infected mosquito bites the dog and transmits larvae into the bloodstream
- In 5-6 months, the larvae matures, and develops in the dog’s lungs and heart
- The adult heartworm releases microfilaria into the bloodstream of the dog
Cost of Heartworm Preventive
The cost of heartworm is way less compared to its treatment. Heartworm treatments are available in tablet, chewable, and topical form. These are monthly treatments that protect your buddy from heartworm infection. Moreover, advanced treatment like Heartgard Plus for Dog also treats various other worms such as hookworms and roundworms.
The cost of heartworm preventive treatment, according to The American Animal Hospital Association, is $5-$15 per month (on an average).
Hence, if you want to avoid the heavy cost of treating heartworm disease, always administer preventives to your furry pal. Year round prevention is the best for your buddy’s health. It will not only ensure his well-being but also save him from such a deadly disease.
Cost of Heartworm Treatment
The vet will evaluate your dog’s health and check the severity of the infection before suggesting a treatment. The treatment will destroy the adult worms that are present in the heart and arteries of the dog. Moreover, it also eradicates microfilaria, so the dog doesn’t get infected again.
The treatment generally consists of injections and hospital stay. However, the recovery could take up to 7-8 months. Furthermore, the treatment can cost from $400 to $1000, depending upon the dog’s condition.
One reason to prevent this disease is its cost. Another is that the treatment is very complex. The vet will need to check for any underlying diseases that could have an impact on the treatment (like lung damage or heart disease). Although the success rate of treatment is high (98%), the second round of treatment might be needed. The second dose is required only if the heartworms are present in the dog’s body after 6 months of treatment.
Heartworm is one disease you should be afraid of for your furry pal. It can deteriorate your pet’s health and cause disturbances in their (and your) life. What makes the treatment so expensive is the frequent visit to vets, X-rays, checkups, and rounds of injections.
Read: Top 7 Heartworm Preventatives for Dogs
Our advice to pet parents is to administer heartworm preventive to their dogs all year round. Products like Heartgard Plus, Advantage Multi, Nuheart (Generic Version of Heartgard) and Nexgard Spectra are the best heartworm preventive treatment for dogs.
