How does your dog or cat get infected with heartworms?

A sting from an infected mosquito transmits heartworm.

Dogs and cats are always infected by being stung by mosquitoes. Fortunately, really not all mosquitoes are dangerous. Indeed, it is only mosquitoes that live in warm parts of Europe, such as the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, that are also infected. Mosquitoes that suck blood from dogs and cats with heartworm larvae in their blood then pick up larvae. Temperature and humidity are very decisive as to whether the larva can survive and develop in the mosquito hence they are not yet infected throughout Europe. When an infected mosquito stings a cat or dog, it can introduce the larva into the animal. Once inside the animal, this worm can develop into an adult worm. Fortunately for cats, we rarely see larvae growing into adult heartworms. In dogs, this is really a different story. There, the worms grow into adult worms of up to 30 cm. They settle in the pulmonary veins and the right part of the heart. Adult worms can also make new larvae in the dog, which can again be ingested by mosquitoes, completing the cycle.

Heartworm you want to prevent in your dog, but how?

Adult heartworms are difficult to treat therefore prevention is better than cure! Protection is necessary in areas where mosquitoes may be infected such as southern and eastern Europe. Prevent the infected mosquito from stinging your dog with special bands such as the Sersto or Scalibor. Preferring a spot-on, that is of course also possible, check out: Advantix or Pulvex.

Of course, this cannot be done 100 per cent so therefore also deworm every 30 days up to and including a month after returning home with dewormers such as: a href="https://www.petcure.nl/milpro/milpro-hond/">Milpro, Milbemax or Milbactor.

-This is an automated translation-