: Preventing Heartworm

Heartworm disease is a debilitating, painful and potentially fatal condition that affects thousands of dogs every year.

Heartworms are transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes. Female heartworms produce larvae, known as microfilariae, in the blood of infected dogs. The mosquitoes suck up the microfilariae when they feed from an infected dog and transmit the parasite when they feed on other dogs.

Symptoms include weight loss, listlessness/weakness, a lack of appetite, poor exercise tolerance, shortness of breath and blood in the urine. As the disease progresses the dog will suffer weight loss and the condition of its coat will deteriorate.

Unfortunately, most dog owners don't realise their pet has a problem until the disease is well advanced and surgery may be required to remove the worms.

But while heartworm is difficult to treat, it is extremely easy to prevent by using one of the many different heartworm prevention products on the market. PEDIGREE recommends EXELPET® EZY-DOSE® Monthly Heartworm Treatment for Dogs - a tasty, meaty chew that is fed on or around the same day every month as a snack, treat or with food.

EXELPET® EZY-DOSE® Monthly Heartworm Treatment for Dogs is available from your local supermarket in a convenient Small, Medium or Large dog formula.

Dogs up to six months of age can be started on a monthly heartworm treatment plan, while dogs more than six months of age should be checked by a vet and cleared of heartworm before treatment commences.