Animal shelter issues heartworm warning
Potentially fatal mosquito-borne illness can be prevented with medication
The Cape Coral Animal Shelter has issued a warning: Pet owners should make sure their pets are on a monthly heartworm preventative.
“Our warm, humid climate and abundant rainfall creates ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes — and this can be deadly to our pets,” the shelter said in a release. “As summer reaches its peak, so does the risk of pets contracting heartworm disease — a serious and potentially fatal condition spread by mosquitoes — that affects both dogs and cats.”
Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, making it especially dangerous in warm, humid climates like ours. Once infected, a pet can suffer from severe lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and in some cases, death. Dogs are natural hosts for heartworms, but cats are also at risk — even indoor cats.
The disease is preventable.
“It is absolutely imperative that all pets — dogs and cats alike — are on monthly heartworm preventative,” said Liz McCauley, executive director of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter. “This disease is not just dangerous-it can be deadly. Prevention is simple, but once infected, the treatment is long, expensive, and painful for the animal. We urge every pet owner to take this seriously.”
What pet owners need to know
• Prevention is key. Talk to your veterinarian about monthly preventative medication. It’s safer, easier, and far less expensive than treating an infected animal.
• Signs of heartworm in dogs include coughing, fatigue, reduced appetite, and weight loss. In cats, symptoms may be subtle or include vomiting, respiratory distress, or sudden collapse.
• Testing and early treatment are critical. Heartworm damage can begin long before your pet shows signs of illness.
How you can help shelter animals
“At Cape Coral Animal Shelter, we are currently treating a growing number of heartworm-positive animals, and we need your help,” the release states. “Treating heartworm-positive pets is time-consuming and expensive. It can take 6 to 12 months for a dog to recover, and the medications, veterinary care, and sheltering costs add up quickly. Please consider donating to support our mission. You can give online at www.capecoralanimalshelter.com/donate or visit us in person to learn more about how you can help.”
Cape Coral Animal Shelter is at 325 SW 2nd Ave., in Cape Coral.