http://www.krisers.com | Heartworms are parasites that infect dogs, cats and other animals. Left untreated, they can cause severe damage in a few months and potentially cause death. Treatment is possible, but a better option is heartworm medication that prevents the worms from maturing and causing the damage in the first place.

1. Preventing and Detecting Heartworms in a Dog or Cat
A Heartworm is a parasite that enters its host, usually a dog, but often cats and other mammals,
through the bloodstream. The infection, if not detected early, can prove fatal. In the spring,
veterinarians recommend having dogs and cats tested for exposure to heartworms from the
previous autumn’s mosquito population. Mosquitos are the most common form of carrier of this
dreaded parasite. In addition to providing warm shelter, a healthy diet using organic pet food,
and giving a pet lots of love, along with regular checkups, are all vital to a pet’s health.
What Are Heartworms?
Heartworms are worms, similar to earthworms, which can reach six to ten inches in length at
maturity. They go through four separate lifecycles: two in the carrier, and two in the final host,
usually a dog or cat. They begin as microscopic organisms called microfilaria and reach sexual
maturity at stage four when they can produce hundreds of microscopic baby worms that are
released into the host animal’s bloodstream.
How Does The Pet Get Heartworms?
Mosquitoes feed on an infected host, such as a dog. The microscopic organisms live within the
mosquito through two lifecycles. They then travel to the mosquito’s salivary glands. This allows
them to enter the next host when the mosquito bites its next victim. The development continues
with the larvae passing through two more molts before reaching sexual maturity. This can take
six to seven months and is the reason the animal should be tested in the spring to see if it was
infected last summer or fall.
What Are The Symptoms Of Heartworms?
Symptoms of heartworms can be difficult to detect. There are no symptoms early on. It isn’t
until after the fourth molt that any symptoms occur. Some symptoms a pet owner might notice
include:
● Weight loss
● Lethargy
● Coughing
The larvae arrive in the right ventricle of the heart and the surrounding blood vessels. Damage to
the artery lining occurs within days. Inflammation occurs as the body tries to defend against the
infection, but the worms work faster than the body. Blood clots and aneurisms can occur. As the
disease progresses, blood vessels become blocked and fluid builds up, causing the dog or cat to
cough. If left untreated, the animal will eventually collapse due to shock from the infection, and
death follows in as little as one to two days.
Can Heartworms Be Treated?

2. Treatment may be available, depending on how far the infection has progressed and how many
worms have infected an animal. The treatment can be expensive, and it is not without side
effects.
How Can Heartworms Be Prevented?
Good care is of the utmost importance. Annual testing is available and, if caught early, the
condition may be reversed. However prevention is the best option. Medication given once a
month kills the baby larvae before they can reach the maturity needed to cause damage. Make
sure you groom your dog or cat regularly and check for any skin problems or wounds. Provide
a nutritious diet using organic pet food like that marketed by Krisers, and give a pet heartworm
medication every month for the rest of its life.
Company Bio
Kriser’s has been supplying all natural pet foods since 2001. Brad Kriser discovered what he
could do for the overall well-being of the pets he was caring for in his pet day care. The pet food
became so popular with pet owners who appreciated the difference it made in their pets’ lives,
that Brad Kriser opened a store dedicated to supplies and all-natural pet foods. He now has 22
locations in three states.