April is Heartworm Awareness Month. The American Heartworm Society recommends heartworm testing once a year and using heartworm prevention all year long. Missing just one dose of heartworm prevention can lead to a pet getting infected. If you and your pet are headed to the veterinarian’s office this spring for an annual check-up, be sure you leave the clinic with heartworm prevention!

If you live in the Northeastern United States, you can enjoy the changing seasons and a variety of outdoor activities ranging from hiking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter to leaf-peeping in the fall and birdwatching in the spring. And if you’re a pet parent, we bet your four-legged companion is a big part of how you decide to spend your time. 

But parasites living in the Northeast can create big problems for our dogs and cats. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can spread dangerous diseases and even cause severe illness and death. 

Protecting dogs and cats from parasites is an important part of responsible pet ownership. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are three troublesome pests that can cause pets discomfort and transmit dangerous diseases. For example, mosquitoes are the vector of heartworms, meaning they can carry and transmit this internal parasite to dogs and cats. 

In the Southern United States, there is no real “off season” for fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes. Veterinarians recommend using year-round parasite control to ensure your pet is always protected from these pests.

As pet parents, we’re used to routine wellness check-ups and questions about our pets’ parasite medication schedules. Maybe your vet has even suggested taking home a collection kit for fecal parasite testing. It might all seem a bit over-the-top. But when was the last time you checked in on the latest parasite trends affecting pets in your area?

The Midwest is home to the sprawling plains, the shores of the Great Lakes, and the foothills of the Ozark and Appalachian Mountains. It encompasses 12 states and all of them are home to fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. These parasites can cause discomfort and pass on dangerous diseases to your pet. 

What Is Heartworm Disease in Dogs?

Heartworm disease is a serious—sometimes fatal—disease caused by parasitic worms that grow in a dog’s heart, lungs, and arteries.

Heartworm disease can be easily prevented in dogs but it is unfortunately quite common, affecting at least a million dogs in the U.S. While heartworm disease in dogs is treatable, it can cause serious and lasting damage.

Parasite can be spread by mosquitoes biting infected pets, then other animals

Dog owners on Prince Edward Island are being encouraged to take precautions to protect their animals from heartworm, as the number of cases takes a big jump. 

"We test about 150 dogs per year for canine heartworm, and in the last about five years we've seen that about 50 per cent of the samples that we get are positive for heartworm," said Dr. Nina Germitsch, a veterinary parasitologist based at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. 

American Heartworm Society survey reveals new incidence trends

From Baton Rouge to Boston to San Antonio and Seattle, heartworms pose a serious health threat to the nation’s four-legged family members. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Heartworm Society (AHS), every U.S. state has pets with heartworms. But while states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas have consistently had high heartworm rates, veterinarians participating in the survey reported that infections are also on the rise in unexpected locales like Washington, North Dakota, and Massachusetts.

Influx of heartworm-positive dogs and lack of prevention compliance cited as leading factors

APEX, NC – A first glance at the 2022 Heartworm Incidence Map from the American Heartworm Society (AHS) might suggest that heartworm rates have stayed steady over the past three years.Dig a little deeper, however, and it’s clear that rates have continued to trend upward in both heartworm “hot spots” and in locales where heartworm cases were once rare.

The bad news: Heartworm disease can be fatal to dogs, cats, and ferrets. 
The good news: You can protect your pet from this disease.

Heartworms can infect your pet year-round and preventing them is much easier, and healthier, for your pet than getting heartworms in the first place or treating heartworm disease afterward. Year-round prevention is key to keeping your pet heartworm free.