1-800-PetMeds Warns That More Than 118 Million US Pets Are Vulnerable to Heartworm Disease

Pompano Beach, FL (PRWEB) November 16, 2007 -- Heartworm disease affects both dogs and cats coast-to-coast in the United States, yet only 55% of dogs and only 4% of cats are currently on heartworm preventative medication, leaving over 118 million US pets vulnerable to the disease. With warmer temperatures across the country, the range and number of mosquitoes which can pass heartworm disease potentially increases the risk. However, most pet owners don't know that using a simple, monthly heartworm preventative such as Heartguard Plus® (http://www.1800petmeds.com/pselect.asp?LV=263&PG=Heartgard%20Plus), Interceptor® (http://www.1800petmeds.com/heartworm/interceptor.asp?LV=263&PG=Intercept) or Revolution® (http://www.1800petmeds.com/pselect.asp?LV=201&PG=Revolution) can virtually eliminate the risk of a pet developing the disease, according to 800PetMeds.com, America's Largest Pet Pharmacy.

The adult heartworm is fairly large (up to 14 inches long) and lives in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs and cats. In severely infected animals, numerous worms grow and fill up the heart chamber. In dogs, heartworms can cause damage to the pulmonary arteries, resulting in pneumonia, hypertension, chronic immune stimulation and "caval syndrome" where the entire right side of the heart collapses.

Although a cat's immune system is more resistant to heartworm infection, a far fewer number of worms (less than six vs. 25-50 in a dog) can cause severe problems because the feline heart and blood vessels are so small. Infected cats develop respiratory stress, coughing or chronic vomiting. As with dogs, sudden death is possible. However, heartworm prevention is even more critical for cats as there are no products approved for treating feline heartworm infection. For more information on heartworm, visit

Recently, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) released new guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and managing heartworm infections in dogs and cats. According to Tom Nelson, DVM and president of the AHS, the new guidelines recommend annual testing, retesting if the heartworm preventative is changed and year-round use of heartworm preventative products.

Fortunately, the risk of infection in both dogs and cats can be virtually eliminated with the consistent, monthly use of heartworm preventatives (http://www.1800petmeds.com/all.asp?LV=11) such as Heartguard Plus®, Interceptor® or Revolution®. Heartguard Plus and Interceptor® are administered by mouth as flavored chews or "Flavor Tabs" while is applied to the skin. The heartworm preventatives work by wiping out the latter-stage larvae freshly delivered by mosquitoes. Heartguard Plus® is also able to kill younger adult heartworms, which have already entered the circulatory system. For more information about these products, visit1800petmeds.com.

While 61% to 90% of non-medicated cats exposed to infective heartworm larvae will become infected, virtually 100% of non-medicated dogs exposed will become infected. Regular monthly, year-round use of heartworm preventatives will help protect pets and help pet owners get in the habit of regularly giving their pets their pet medication.

About 1800PetMeds:

Founded in 1996, 1800petmeds.com is America's largest pet pharmacy, delivering prescription and non-prescription pet meds and other pet health products for dogs, cats, and horses at competitive prices direct to the consumer through its 1800 PetMeds toll free number and on the Internet through its website at www.1800petmeds.com.

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