WILL HEARTWORM BECOME MORE
COMMON IN PORTLAND?

That’s hard to say. Southern Oregon is the only part of the state where it is common. However, the heartworm mosquito lives year-round in our area. By putting your dog on a heartworm preventative, you may be helping to prevent heartworm from becoming more common in this area.

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WHAT IS HEARTWORM?

Heartworm is a blood-borne parasite which infects the right ventricle of the heart and the pulmonary artery of dogs (and occasionally cats.) These worms cause severe disease which can result in death. Treatment can be complicated and expensive.

HOW IS HEARTWORM TRANSMITTED?

Dogs become infected when bitten by mosquitoes carrying the heartworm larvae. The larvae mature into adult worms which clog the blood flow through the heart and blood vessels of the lungs.

HOW COMMON IS HEARTWORM?

Heartworm is uncommon in dogs which have never been out of the Portland area. However, there is a high incidence of heartworm in Southern Oregon and parts of California as well as the Midwest, East coast, Gulf states, and Hawaii. In many countries overseas, it is very common. If you are going to be taking your dog to a heartworm-endemic area, place your dog on a heartworm preventative. Also, heartworm may become more common in our area in the future. If you want to take all precautions, then place your dog on a heartworm preventative and test your dog yearly for heartworm.

CAN HEARTWORM BE PREVENTED?

Heartworm can be preventedWe carry a monthly preventative medication, Heartgard PlusTM™ , which contains the drug Ivermectin. Prior to placing your dog on preventative medication however, it should be tested to make sure it is not already infected. The use of preventative medication in a heavily infected dog can result in illness.

If your dog is less than six months of age, it is not necessary to test it prior to placing it on heartworm preventative. Any dog older than six months should be tested first.