Intestinal and Heartworm

Intestinal Worming

Worming is one of the first health care issues pet owners need to address as pups and kittens are the most susceptible. As their name suggests, intestinal and heart worms are parasites that live inside your pet. These worms range in size from small to surprisingly large (up to 18cm in length). Regardless of their size however, they all have negative, and potentially deadly effects.

Most species of animal, as well as humans, can be infected with worms including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, fish, birds and reptiles. Thankfully, worms are easy to prevent when part of your pet health care routine.

Puppies and kittens need to be wormed every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then every month until 6 months of age. After six months of age an adult needs to be wormed every 3 months.  However, we do recommend worming your pet monthly if they go out and about a lot.

Heartworm

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the heart of dogs. Mosquitoes transmit the disease to dogs by injecting tiny heartworm larvae into their skin. The larvae develop in the tissues and migrate to the heart where they grow into adult worms. The good news is that heartworm is preventable.
Simple, year-round heartworm prevention is available from your vet to protect your dog all year long against deadly heartworm disease. Heartworm prevention can conveniently be administered by your vet at your dog’s annual health check

ProHeart SR12 – NexGardSpectra®️ Injection is a once-a-year product for the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs. Its sustained-release formula ensures a full 12 months protection from a single dose administered by your veterinarian. The once a year injection provides the following benefits:-

  • eliminates the need to remember monthly heartworm tablets
  • you will receive ONE yearly reminder for your pet’s booster vaccination
  • it can safely be combined with your pet’s vaccination or annual check-up
  • the injection is quick

When can your dog receive once a year heartworm prevention?

We can administer an injection from the age of 3 months of age. This will be followed by a booster at 6 months of age and then a  yearly booster for life.

If your adult dog is not receiving any form of monthly heartworm protection or has had a break in prevention, he/she may require testing. Our veterinarian will discuss this with you prior to administering the injection.

Can your dog change from monthly heartworm treatment to the yearly injection?

If your dog is already receiving monthly heartworm protection, you can swap immediately to the once a year injection.

Intestinal and Heartworm for pets