09/09/2025
Heartworm Prevention: A Critical Step in Your Pet’s Health 🐾💓
At Woodland Veterinary Hospital, we always aim to keep your furry friends healthy and happy. Unfortunately, we recently had a case of a heartworm-positive pet, and we want to take this opportunity to educate our community on the importance of heartworm testing & prevention. 🐶🐱
What are Heartworms?
Heartworms are parasitic worms that live in the heart and lungs of pets, primarily affecting dogs but also cats and other animals. They are transmitted through mosquito bites, and the larvae can grow into long, dangerous worms that can damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels leading to heart failure and even death.
Why Prevention Matters
While heartworm treatment exists, it’s complex, expensive, and can carry risks for your pet. Prevention is ALWAYS better than treatment, and it’s far easier and more affordable to protect your pets than to treat the disease once it’s contracted. Treating and removing the parasites also does not reverse the amount of damage which the worms have already caused to your pets vital organs which can cause lifelong problems!
How to Protect Your Pet:
Monthly Preventatives: There are a variety of heartworm preventatives available, including chewables, topicals, and injectables. Most are given monthly, year-round, to ensure your pet is always protected.
Mosquito Control: Since heartworm
**Video of active microfilaria (baby heartworms) the microscope, from a drop of blood, from the patient in the comments. **
Callie is on a long journey of treatments in these upcoming months which consists of weeks of exercising restrictions and multiple hospital visits. Callie's owners have had her for four years. In past visits she has never had a heartworm test done so it is unknown how long Callie has been heartworm positive. Please keep Callie in your thoughts and prayers.