Do Dogs Need Heartworm Meds In Winter?

Heartworm disease in dogs is a serious disease caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis through a mosquito bite.

Most people think that they only occur in warm months but must know that dogs may still acquire heartworms during winter as mosquitoes though less active, they are present in some parts during this cold season and pests may be able to hide indoors.

Once introduced into the dog, the larvae move through the bloodstream to the dog’s heart and lungs, where they mature and multiply. These worms can seriously harm the heart the lungs and their arteries leading to extreme health problems and, in extreme situations, death. Your dog must be on a year-round prevention plan so there is no season.

Heartworm Meds in Winter

Yes, dogs are also in need of heartworm medication during winter. While it’s true that mosquito activities are less frequent because of the low temperatures in winter time, they do not completely cease. Some mosquito species remain active even during winter, especially in temperate climates, or indoors where they can feed and breed within relatively warmer temperatures.

Administration of its prevention is most effective by being administered throughout the year. Failure to provide administrations during winter can increase your chances that a dog might contract the infection, should they be bitten by an infected mosquito.

In addition, this helps ensure that those larvae transmitted in the warmer months are sufficiently eliminated before they can grow into adult worms. Veterinarians advise a continuous heartworm preventive measure as the best preventive strategy for your dog.

Preventive medication against heartworms at regular intervals irrespective of the season is an integral part of keeping your dog healthy and free from a disease potentially lethal to your dog. In this regard, an expert veterinary opinion should always be consulted about the most appropriate prevention measure for your dog.

Heartworm Medication

Heartworm medications will hence give protection against heartworm diseases which in turn would be a paralyzing and fatal condition due to parasitic worms. These tend to kill the worm larvae when they are at their younger stages to prevent them from becoming the mature worms that are responsible for heart, lung, and blood vessel damage.

Heartworm medications come in several forms:

1. Oral Medication: These are given monthly and are in the form of chewable tablets. These are easy to give, as they often have a favorable taste for dogs, and represent a good example of ivermectin-containing products like Heartgard and milbemycin oxime-containing products like Interceptor.
2. Topical Medication: These are applied to the skin of a dog, most often between the shoulder blades, once monthly. They absorb into the skin and then into the bloodstream. They contain moxidectin-containing products, such as Advantage Multi.
3. Injectible Medication: These are administered by a veterinarian and can provide immunity for up to six months. One of these is ProHeart which contains moxidectin.

These drugs are to be administered regularly, as recommended by your veterinarian so that the dog does not contract heartworm infection. If doses are missed or irregularly administered, there is a high probability that your dog could get infected by such an infection.

All dogs need to be tested for previous infections before a heartworm prevention program can be started. The administration of preventive medication to a dog already harboring the Dirofilaria immitis infection results in serious complications.

How To Prevent Heartworm In Dogs?

It is very important to prevent heartworms in dogs for their survival and health. The best way to guarantee their safety from these parasites is through the administration of heartworm preventatives.

These include the monthly chewable tablets, topical treatments, and injections that last between 6 to 12 months. You should consult your veterinarian to give you the right medication for your dog. For more information on its preventatives, visit the American Heartworm Society.

Routine visits also come in handy. Schedule annual checkups with your veterinarian and this should include heartworm testing. That ensures any infection is caught early, and managed well. A regular vet visit is part of what keeps your dog healthy. Learn more about why routine vet visits are so important here at the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Because heartworms are transmitted through mosquitoes, it would be beneficial to reduce your dog’s exposure to these pesky insects. Use pet-safe mosquito repellents, keep your home and yard free of standing water, and limit your dog’s outdoor activities during peak mosquito times (dawn and dusk). For tips on mosquito control, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lastly, make sure to keep your yard clean. Empty stagnant water in which mosquitoes might breed, like flowerpots, buckets, and gutters. Good environmental management can go a long way in reducing the risk of heartworm infection. To learn more about managing your environment for the prevention of mosquitoes, check out the Environmental Protection Agency.

These measures will significantly reduce the probability of heartworms developing inside your dog. For any concern or specific recommendation, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian.