A: It’s a very common problem in animal shelters today, and public shelters rarely have the money to treat heartworm disease. One reason is, there’s already a serious problem with people forgetting to give their dogs the heartworm preventatives. Heartworm cases are mostly found in areas with subtropical climates, like the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, but are prevalent in all 50 states. There is some risk involved in treating dogs with heartworms, although fatalities are rare. The disease is found all over the world. It's given by deep injection into the back muscles to treat dogs with stabilized class 1, 2, and 3 heartworm disease. Heartworm disease has not only spread throughout the United States, but it’s also now found in areas where veterinarians used to say “Oh, we don’t have heartworm disease.” Areas like Oregon, California, Arizona, and desert areas -- where irrigation and building are allowing mosquitoes to survive. Heartworm disease is a serious but treatable health problem. It is harder to detect heartworm infections in cats than in dogs.  Veterinarians generally use two types of blood tests in combination to check a cat for heartworms.  However, negative test results do not rule out heartworm infection, and positive test results may or may not mean that there is an active heartworm infection.  A veterinarian uses the results of both blood tests, along with the cat’s symptoms and the results of other tests such as x-rays and an ultrasound of the heart, to determine if a cat has heartworm disease. A: Yes, they can get them again. Heartworm disease in dogs is one of the most common diseases contracted by dogs. Heartworm disease is an invisible, but potentially fatal threat that occurs in dogs and other animals. In the United States, heartworm disease is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries, but it … Drugs are available to cure your animal. Heartworm symptoms in dogs are caused by the parasite heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis). Pet owners may find it helpful to post the heartworm medication dates on their refrigerator door and then check off the administration dates as the prescription is provided. It is recommended that cats be tested for heartworms before starting heartworm prevention, although this pre-testing is less useful than in dogs. Talk to your cat’s veterinarian about testing your cat for heartworms.Â, Photo courtesy of David A. Crum, DVM, MPH, Ferrets can also get heartworms from the bite of an infected mosquito.  Ferrets are similar to dogs in their susceptibility to heartworm infections, but their symptoms are more similar to those seen in cats.Â. Side effects are common with heartworm treatment. Class 1:  No symptoms or mild symptoms such as an occasional cough. Heartworm disease is not contagious, meaning that a dog cannot catch the disease from being near an infected dog.  Heartworm disease is only spread through the bite of a mosquito. It’s perfectly acceptable to adopt a dog with heartworms, but you have to be dedicated to having the disease treated appropriately, because it’s a horrible disease that can lead to a dog’s death if left untreated. Advantage Multi for Dogs is a topical solution applied to the dog’s skin. Schedule An Appointment To Diagnose Or Prevent Heartworm In Dogs. That’s why prevention is so important. Class 4:  Also called caval syndrome.  There is such a heavy worm burden that blood flowing back to the heart is physically blocked by a large mass of worms.  Caval syndrome is life-threatening and quick surgical removal of the heartworms is the only treatment option.  The surgery is risky, and even with surgery, most dogs with caval syndrome die.Â, Contact the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine at 240-402-7002 or, Visit the American Heartworm Society’s website at.