Fight the Bite: Keep Your Pet Safe from Heartworm & Lyme Disease
With spring’s warmer weather come some tiny but dangerous pests: mosquitoes and ticks. April is National Heartworm Awareness Month and Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month – a perfect time to ensure your furry family member is protected. Even pets who stay mostly indoors are still at risk. Let’s debunk a few myths and see why preventing heartworm and Lyme disease is so important.
Myth Busting: Indoor Pets Are Not Immune
You may have heard someone say, “My dog stays inside, so they don’t need heartworm or tick prevention.” This is a dangerous myth. Mosquitoes and ticks can find your pet, even inside the house. A single mosquito that sneaks indoors can carry heartworm larvae – and one bite is all it takes to infect your dog. Ticks are just as sneaky; they can hitch a ride on your clothes or other animals and end up on your dog. Indoors or out, your pet needs protection from heartworm and Lyme disease.
Prevention vs. Treatment: A Cost-Effective Choice
Preventing these diseases is safer for your pet – and much easier on your wallet – than treating them. Monthly heartworm prevention costs around $10, while treating a heartworm infection can easily exceed $1,000. And treatment isn’t simple: it involves multiple vet visits, injections, and months of restricted activity for your dog.Lyme disease can be just as tough. A dog with Lyme might need long courses of antibiotics, and if the disease isn’t caught early it can cause serious issues like kidney damage – potentially leading to hospitalization or even lifelong medication. Compare that to the simplicity of using a regular tick preventive and maybe a Lyme vaccine – spending a little now can save a lot later.
From the Vet’s Perspective: Why Prevention Is Critical
We’ve seen how devastating heartworm and Lyme disease can be. Treating heartworm is a long, hard road: dogs must endure weeks of discomfort and strict rest. Sadly, some advanced cases don’t survive or end up with lasting heart damageLyme can be just as bad – we’ve seen dogs with swollen joints and even kidney issues from Lyme disease. It’s heartbreaking to watch, knowing it was preventable. We would much rather help you stop these diseases before they start.
Year-Round Protection: What Pet Parents Can Do
- Use heartworm prevention year-round (and test annually): Give a veterinarian-recommended heartworm preventive every month, all year long. Don’t skip winter doses – it only takes one warm day for mosquitoes. Also, get a yearly heartworm test to ensure they’re clear.
- Use tick prevention consistently: Use a tick preventive consistently (even during cooler months). Ticks can lurk in your yard, so a good preventive is essential to stop them from biting your dog.
- Do regular tick checks: After outdoor play or walks, always check your dog for ticks. Look behind the ears, under the collar, between the toes — ticks love to hide. Remove any tick promptly with tweezers or a tick-removal tool.
- Ask about the Lyme vaccine: Talk with us about whether the Lyme disease vaccine is right for your dog. If you live in a high-risk area and your pup loves hiking, this vaccine can add extra protection.
We’re here to help answer any questions you may have about these pests, as well as provide options for the best products to use to protect your pet, based on their age, health, and lifestyle.
This April, double-check that your dog is up to date on heartworm and tick prevention and that you are equipped with what you need for the rest of this year. A quick chat with us about preventive care could save your pet’s life – and save you the worry and expense of dealing with these diseases. Stay proactive all year long, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your best friend is safe from heartworm and Lyme disease.
