Heartworm prevention
Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm carried by mosquitoes. It can infect dogs, cats and other animals, though rarely humans, and with our warm, humid climate is a significant threat to animals in Hong Kong.
When a mosquito sucks blood from an infected dog, it ingests baby worms called microfilaria. The microfilaria change into infective larvae inside the mosquito which then passes them on to a healthy dog while it feeds on the animal’s blood. These larvae develop into adult worms which migrate to the heart and large blood vessels where adult female worms start producing more microfilaria, causing the cycle to begin again.
The first symptoms of heartworm include coughing, breathing difficulty, weakness and exercise intolerance. If left untreated, the number of adult heartworms will increase, interfering with the normal functioning of the heart which can lead to congestive heart failure and death.
Happily, heartworm is easy to prevent and there are two options:
- Monthly tablets: ideally all puppies should be treated from three months old with their second DHPPiL vaccination and be given a product such as TRI-HEART® every month. The dosage needed depends on your dog’s weight so remember to weigh them regularly to ensure you’re giving them the right amount. The tablets are available by prescription so please consult your clinic for more details.
- Annual PROHEART® injection: This injection is given yearly to dogs over nine months by a veterinary surgeon. It can be given to younger dogs, albeit over the age of three months but protection won’t last a full year.
If your dog has not started preventative treatment by the age of six months or if you forget to give your animal their monthly tablets or annual injection, it may be necessary to do a blood test first. Please consult your veterinary surgeon for further advice and more information can be found here.
Our recommendation is to prevent heartworm because once infected, treatment is expensive and can be risky. It can often require hospitalisation and a long period of post-treatment care.
Preventative Pet Health
Vaccination
Vaccination protects your pet against highly infectious and sometimes fatal diseases. It is particularly important for young animals not only because their immune systems are not fully developed but also so they can be socialised to ...
Deworming
Parasitic worms are as common as fleas to your pet, especially in puppies and kittens. From one centimetre hookworms to metre-long flat tapeworms, they can also be transmitted to people in some instances ...
Flea and tick control
Fleas and ticks are very common in the warm, humid climate of Hong Kong. They can cause a variety of conditions from skin disease and allergies to severe anaemias. Control of these pests is therefore important for the welfare of your ...
Heartworm prevention
Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm carried by mosquitoes. It can infect dogs, cats and other animals, though rarely humans, and with our warm, humid climate is a significant threat to animals in Hong Kong ...
Dental care
Dental disease is one of the most common problems in domestic pets with symptoms including bad breath, swollen gums, loose teeth, drooling and pain when eating. Here are a few things we can do to help animals maintain oral hygiene ...
Skin disease
Skin disease affects thousands of dogs and cats every year, ranging from minor “hot spots” to extremely debilitating long-term skin problems. This is particularly the case in Hong Kong’s hot, humid summers but it can occur at any ...
Obesity control
Obesity is a term for any animal which weighs 15% more than it should. Just as with humans, it is not cute and carries significant health risks. And, again just like humans, obesity is a disease that predisposes your pet to many ...
Healthy Paws Lifestyle Campaigns
The SPCA is committed to animal welfare and providing quality veterinary care. In recent years we have run several campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle not just for pets but people too. After all, a healthy pet means a happy ...
Underwater Treadmill
We are grateful to Mrs Diana Wu, alongside Sasha and Andrew Benadie, for their generous sponsorship that has allowed us to install an underwater rehabilitation treadmill at our Hong Kong centre, the first of its kind in Hong Kong ...