Cost for Heartworm Treatment

The cost of treatment is dependent on where you’re being treated; usually starting around $500.00 and can go well beyond $1,000. The risk of complications is also high; the worms being expelled can cause blockages in blood flow. Heart worm prevention medicine like Heart Guard or many others your vet can provide range from $30.00-$50.00, that’s $ 8-$10 dollars a month. This of course is much less costly than heartworm treatment injections or surgery. Schedule your dog’s exam and heartworm test today. 

Heartworm Treatment

Most common treatment for dogs is an injection of immiticide into the hip area. Immiticide kills the developed adult heartworms in the dog’s heart and destroys the worms into passable pieces. Heart worms can be treated with a few injections but with advanced cases surgery might be required. Your vet tries to avoid this route at all means necessary. Please schedule your appointment today to receive a blood test and heartworm medication. If your dog is infected with heartworm, contact a local vet with heartworm treatment immediately. 

Heartworm Testing

The most common test is the heartworm antigen test and is done before your vet can prescribe your dog any heartworm prevention medication. The antigen test is done by taking a small sample of blood and testing for adult heartworms. Taking only a few minutes your dog can test negative for heart worms and prescribed heartworm prevention medication. Owners have the option to opt out of the recommended yearly heartworm exam, but the dog is now at great risk for infection. Please schedule an appointment with a trusted Frisco Vet, to set up your Heartworm test and get heartworm prevention. 

Symptoms of Heartworm

Early symptoms of heartworm infection exhibits no signs or symptoms. After maturity, the parasites first reach the dog’s lungs and shoot up into the heart. The heart worms grow and spread blocking circulation in the heart. Mild infection symptoms include a nighttime cough. A full blown heart worm infection includes cough, extreme fatigue, loss of consciousness, abnormal heart and lung sounds. Untreated cases result in artery blockage and eventually death. Please schedule your quick heartworm evaluation today. 

What is Heartworm? Winter Months

According to the Heartwormsociety.org, environmental changes by humans have increased heartworm population drastically. Domestic dogs are the main hosts for these parasitic nematodes. These parasites are delivered by mosquitoes who have consumed infected material. There’s a current misconception about heartworm preventative treatment is not needed during the colder months because of the small mosquito population. Taking the risk of not protecting your dog in the winter months is not worth the pain and cost of treatment. Please schedule your next exam today.