Many pets live in areas where contracting heartworm is highly likely. Once a dog is diagnosed with heartworm, the treatment takes months and is very expensive. Veterinarians recommend preventative medications to inhibit the chances your pet will contract heartworm. Some veterinarians also recommend purchasing pet insurance to help deter some of the expenses that go hand in hand with treating heartworm.
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Diagnosis
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Diagnosing heartworm can be very difficult, as it only affects the internal organs. The only external symptom that can be used to identify a dog infected with heartworm is coughing. A simple blood test will provide evidence of a heartworm infestation, but this will only show that there are immature worms in the bloodstream. A series of X-rays of the heart and lungs determines whether there are adult worms present, which would be considered a life-threatening infestation.
Treatment
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Treating heartworm infestation is a multistep process. The first step in treatment is the administration of monthly ivermectin-based heartworm preventive products such as Heartgard® or Tri-Heart® to eradicate the migrating immature worms. Veterinarians recommend using this treatment for 1 to 3 months prior to eradicating adult worms, depending on the condition of the dog. Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide® by Merial), administered in two or three doses via a shot in the dog's lower back, eliminates adult worms. During the 1-month recovery period following the final shot, pets need to be confined indoors with little to no excitement. Keeping the pet's heart rate from rising reduces the risk of embolism.
Cost
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The treatment for a dog that tests positive for heartworms ranges from approximately $300 to $1,000. The dog's weight may play a role in the cost of the treatment. Costs also vary greatly among veterinarians and from state to state. Your pet will need to spend several days at the vet and will need to return multiple times for follow-up treatments.
Types of Pet Insurance
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There are many pet insurance companies available for pet owners. They operate similarly to that of their human insurance counterparts with deductibles and monthly premiums. Most pet insurance providers have multiple levels of coverage for pet owners to choose from based on how much they want to spend monthly, the deductible amount, and how much coverage they want for their pet. Basic plans typically only cover veterinary cost up to a certain amount, whereas the more comprehensive plans cover anything from kennel costs to loss or death of a pet.
Pet Insurance Providers
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As you wait in the veterinarian's office and glance around at the pamphlets on the wall, chances are you will see at least one advertising a pet insurance provider. Some of the most well known and largest providers are Petplan, VPI Pet Insurance and Pets Best Insurance. These providers offer similar coverage with varying monthly costs. These providers can also represent you no matter where you live in the United States. If you are uncertain about whether to use pet insurance or not and which provider to use, ask your veterinarian for advice.
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