Heartworm Prevention and Treatment

Heartworms are a parasite that grows and lives inside the heart and pulmonary artery. Heartworms mainly attack dogs but can also affect cats. A simple bite from a mosquito can lead to your pet being infected with heartworms. That's why it is crucial to protect your pet from heartworms by bringing him or her to us at Oak Grove Veterinary Hospital in San Jose. We can help your pet with heartworm prevention and treat the disease in the unfortunate case that your pet does get it.

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Symptoms of Heartworms

If your cat or dog is infected with heartworms, he or she may become extremely lethargic. You will notice that basic things like walking to the food and drink bowl are challenging for your pet. The more time the heartworms have been in the pet's system, the harder it is for that pet to breathe. Extreme weight loss is another obvious sign. Your pet's appetite reduces as the condition worsens, causing excessive weight loss in a short amount of time. Your cat or dog's heartworm symptoms can be hard to tell by the naked eye. That's why it is essential to get your pet checked out by our experienced team.

Treatment

Proper preventative treatment for heartworms cannot be done at home. It takes our veterinarians' help to prescribe the right type of medication to kill off adult and juvenile worms. Both kinds of worms require different treatment. Blood tests and X-rays may be needed to better understand the severity of your pet's heartworms. In extreme cases, an operation may be required. Heartworm treatment can be costly. It's better for both you and your cat or dog that you prevent heartworms from ever being an issue.

Prevention

Prevention of heartworms is never 100%. The best route is to ensure that your pet has regular check-up appointments with our team. This allows our veterinarians to detect juvenile heartworms within the system and prescribe the right protocols to kill them off before they become adults.

Heartworm preventives for your cat or dog may be monthly chewable pills, topical medications, or vaccinations given every 6 or 12 months. Some treatments only prevent heartworms, while others protect pets from heartworms and intestinal parasites. Our team will work with you and your pet to find the right preventative medicine.

Contact Us for Prevention and Treatment in San Jose

We hope that your dog or cat never has to deal with heartworms. That's why our team is here to provide quality preventative treatment for your pet. Here at Oak Grove Veterinary Hospital in San Jose, we help our patients suffering from heartworms with expert medical attention. Whether your pet needs an annual exam or animal urgent care, our team is here for both of you. Contact us at 408 227-1661 to see how our veterinarians can help your pet stay safe from heartworms. 

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Office Hours

Our front office does not close down for lunch.

San Jose Office

Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed