PET HEALTH
Heartworm Season is Here
What is a Heartworm?
Heartworms are small parasites that can enter your pet's bloodsteam via mosquito bites. The larvae work their way into the large blood vessels of the lung and into the heart, ultimately causing nerve damage and an interruption of normal blood flow. In result, your animal can contract forms of severe lung and heart disease. All dogs and cats are susceptible to contracting the parasites.
How Common is Heartworm?
Each year, new cases of heartworm appear across the country. As climate change slowly shifts weather patterns, mosquitoes are becoming more widespread in colder regions of the country. Additionally, increased mobility of pets has encouraged the spread of heartworm.
What are the Symptoms of Heartworm?
Animals typically begin exhibiting symptoms for heartworm when the worms have fully developed in the lungs. As the disease worsens, dogs and cats may cough, become larthargic, or lose their appetite. They also may have difficulty breathing.
Heartworm Prevention
Experts recommend testing your pet starting at seven months of age. This test should be administered at least once a year. In addition to testing, focus on preventive medicine in the form of a topical medication or injection that you can get at the veterinary clinic. This medication should be administered on a strict schedule.
Health Care for Animals Matters
Whether you're caring for senior dogs or kittens, you should be diligent in the prevention of heartworm. Pet health insurance plans are one of the best ways to provide your pet with an affordable preventive medicine plan and a means of treatment if they do get heartworm. Pet medical insurance costs will not only be far less expensive than one-off treatments, but insurance for pets ensures that you are investing in the most important thing of all: your favorite furry companion.
Consider Investing in Pet Insurance
Looking for more ways to keep your pets happy and healthy? Consider investing in a pet insurance policy with MetLife Pet Insurance.1 We offer dog insurance and cat insurance policies for furry family members. Get your free quote today.
Protect your Pets
Nothing in this article should be construed as financial, legal or veterinary advice. Please consult your own advisors for questions relating to your and your pet’s specific circumstances.
1 Pet Insurance offered by MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022, and Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, in those states where MetGen’s policies are available. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is the policy administrator authorized by IAIC and MetGen to offer and administer pet insurance policies. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC was previously known as PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and in some states continues to operate under that name pending approval of its application for a name change. The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions.