Mosquito Madness
Can we talk, South Floridians? August is not my favorite time of the year to be a Miamian. Yes, it’s worth it when our neighbors to the north are shoveling snow in February. But by August, I can never decide what’s worse - the blistering heat, miserable humidity, daily downpours, threat of hurricanes - and let’s not forget those unrelenting mosquitoes!
In addition to being a nuscience for us, some mosquitoes carry heartworm disease, a condition which can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Even if your pets never go outdoors, or only venture out when answering nature’s call, it takes only one bite from one infected mosquito to put your pet at risk. My wife and I have even found mosquitoes inside our home! And while feline heartworm disease was once considered rare, the number of cases has been rising steadily in the past decade. Thankfully, there are several types of heartworm prevention available for both dogs and cats. Since each pet is different, your veterinarian can best advise you on which products he or she recommends for your pet. While treatment exists for canine heartworm disease, it is extremely risky and very expensive. There is currently no treatment available for feline heartworm disease. As is the case with so many diseases, prevention is indeed the best medicine.
