Heartworm is a nasty, potentially fatal disease caused by parasitic worms living in an animal’s heart and blood vessels. It’s a bad deal. Fortunately, Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2016 State of Pet Health Report found a 33.1 percent decline in the number of confirmed heartworm cases in their hospitals between 2011 and 2016. Woo! This trend has a lot to do with proactive prevention on the part of pet owners. Here are three simple things you can do to protect your dog from this horrible disease.  

All 50 states have had confirmed cases of heartworm since the disease’s discovery back in 1856. However, since mosquitoes are responsible for transferring the parasite from dog to dog, some areas do pose a higher risk than others.

According to the American Heartworm Society, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee are the top five worst states when it comes to heartworm diagnosis, in that order. In fact, in a 2016 AHS Incidence Survey, 10 percent of canines in Mississippi tested positive for the parasite. That’s…a lot.

FARMINGTON — Local animal shelters are reporting a high number of heartworm cases this year, but in Farmington the rise was traced to a group of dogs that came from another state.

Aztec Animal Shelter Director Tina Roper said five dogs at her shelter have tested positive for heartworm this year.

"It's a little high," she said. "We don't usually see this many so soon."

Farmington Regional Animal Shelter currently has nine heartworm positive dogs and recently had one adopted.

“We usually have anywhere from two to four at a time,” Shelter Director Stacie Voss said.

All the drugs you need to fight heartworm are at your disposal. Now it’s time to educate and advocate.

Conscientious pet owners understand they must be on the lookout for a host of issues that can affect the health and well-being of their pets. One such issue is heartworm disease.

What is heartworm disease?

As temperatures grow warmer, Westside Veterinary Clinic and the American Heartworm Society (AHS) want every pet owner to be prepared for mosquito season and the risk that heartworm disease carries for pets. 

The heartworm disease landscape isn't what it used to be, which is why it’s so important for the veterinary field to get on the same updated page and prioritize prevention for cats.

Spring is in the air and, unfortunately, so are the mosquitoes.

We all hate the red welts and itching of a mosquito bite, but even worse is the possibility of disease transmission. Most of us know that mosquitoes can transmit diseases to people such as Zika virus, West Nile virus and malaria among others, but did you know that the mosquito is the vector for heartworm disease transmission in dogs and cats?

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) -- Mahoning County animal activists are warning about the dangers of heartworm in pets. A dog named Marnie had to be euthanized on Saturday after she was diagnosed with a severe case of heartworm.

According to the American Heartworm Society, the disease is characterized by footlong worms that live in the infected animal's heart, lungs and other blood vessels. It's a blood-borne disease that causes lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs. The disease can be spread by mosquitos.

Wilmington, Delaware—From heartworm prevalence and resistance to the potential for new diagnostic, preventive and treatment options, attendees of the 16th Triennial Heartworm Symposium in New Orleans will gain insights into heartworm disease management, both today and in the future. The symposium, entitled Understanding Heartworm Disease: From Science to Solutions, will be held September 8-11, 2019, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New Orleans. The meeting is sponsored by the American Heartworm Society (AHS).