How heartworm affects household pets

Heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by a parasite that primarily infects dogs, cats and ferrets. Valley News/Courtesy photo
TEMECULA – Pets are members of many families, so it’s no surprise that so many pet owners place such a great emphasis on raising healthy pets, often going to great lengths to provide nutritious foods for their furry friends and protecting them from a host of dangers, including heartworm.What is heartworm?The American Veterinary Medical Association said that heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by a parasite that primarily infects dogs, cats and ferrets. According to the American Heartworm Society, the heartworm is 1 foot in length and lives in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of affected pets.What happens if a pet is infected with heartworms?Heartworms can cause severe lung disease, heart failure and organ damage.Where do heartworms pose a t
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