How is Heartworm infection treated?
After the dog is diagnosed as heartworm positive, your veterinarian will typically take a chest x-ray to determine the severity of the infection. The severity will determine the course treatment. Your dog will then be admitted into the hospital to have the heartworm treatment medication administered. If after 4 months an antigen test is negative, your dog is assumed to be free of worms. Dogs that are infected can be safely put on a preventive to prevent additional infection. Currently, there is not an approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats. They are typically treated symptomatically and put on preventive to prevent additional infections.
