Heartworm Testing

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition for pets, but it’s entirely preventable. At Nova Pets, we are dedicated to protecting your pets from this dangerous parasite with education, prevention, and treatment options tailored to their needs.

What is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis, which is spread through mosquito bites. Once inside your pet, heartworms grow and live in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels, leading to severe organ damage and, if untreated, death.

How Do Pets Get Heartworms?

Heartworm larvae are transmitted to your pet through the bite of an infected mosquito. Over the course of six months, these larvae mature into adult worms, which can grow up to 12 inches long and reproduce, causing significant damage to your pet’s organs.

Dogs are natural hosts for heartworms, meaning the worms can mature and reproduce, causing a heavy burden. Cats, while less susceptible, can still develop heartworm disease, which can lead to severe respiratory and cardiac issues.

Signs & Symptoms

Heartworm disease can progress silently, showing few symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. Watch for these signs in your pet:

Dogs:

Persistent cough
Fatigue or reluctance to exercise
Weight loss
Difficulty breathing
Swollen belly from fluid accumulation

Cats:

Coughing or asthma-like symptoms
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Difficulty breathing
Sudden collapse or death (in rare cases)

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact Nova Pets immediately for testing and evaluation.

Heartworm Testing

Annual testing is a critical part of heartworm prevention, even for pets on preventive medication. This ensures the medication is working and that your pet hasn’t been exposed.

Testing involves:

A simple blood test to detect heartworm antigens or microfilariae (immature heartworms).
Immediate results to guide next steps in treatment or prevention.

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