DYK? April is Heartworm Awareness Month. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding heartworm disease — so we’re digging into what’s #FactOrFiction when it comes to heartworm prevention with the experts at Greenville Humane Society to help you keep your pets healthy. 🐾

While no state is totally heartworm-free, South Carolina is ranked #3 in the nation for the highest rates of heartworm infection at nearly 6% of all dogs tested. Lookin’ at you, mosquitos. These buggers are the sole way heartworm disease is spread, and they thrive almost year-round in SC.

With this in mind, pets don’t develop immunity to heartworms, and they can get heartworms repeatedly. That’s why it’s important to administer monthly prevention.

You may already be mind-blown, but there’s even more to learn. 🤯

Do you know the myths vs. the truths when it comes to these heartworm tall tails?

#FactOrFiction:

#FactOrFiction: Your pet is only at risk of contracting heartworm disease in the warm summer months.

🐾 This is fiction. Heartworm disease can be contracted year-round.

#FactOrFiction: Pets on prevention meds don’t need to be heartworm tested.

🐾 This is fiction. Pets should be tested for heartworm disease annually. A current heartworm test is required to purchase heartworm prevention.

#FactOrFiction: Cats don’t contract heartworm disease.

🐾 This is fiction. Heartworm disease is one of the leading causes of sudden death in cats of all ages. Just one heartworm can be lethal.

#FactOrFiction: Both indoor and outdoor cats need heartworm prevention.

🐾 This is fact. Both indoor + outdoor cats need heartworm prevention — in fact, 1 in 4 cats diagnosed with heartworm are indoor-only cats.

#FactOrFiction: Heartworm prevention is expensive and unnecessary.

🐾 This is fiction. Heartworm preventives can be purchased for as low as $6/month, whereas treatment (once your pet has heartworms) is often $1,000+. Disease treatment is also incredibly painful, takes months, and can shorten your pet's lifespan.

Lilly, a kitten who was adopted from Greenville Humane Society | Photo provided

Realizing you need to take action? This month, Greenville Humane Society is offering 50% off heartworm testing ($15; typically $30) with purchase of a multi-dose box of heartworm prevention from their Vaccine Clinic. Preventative doses start at as low as $6 per month and can help protect both dogs + cats from this life-threatening disease. Bonus: Proceeds from using the Vaccine Clinic benefit homeless pets. 😻

If you have more questions about heartworm disease, you can take them to the experts at the Greenville Humane Society. Their Vaccine Clinic is open to anyone for testing 5 days/week (and some nights and weekends) — and their monthly Saturday vaccine clinic is back in May, taking place on the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Plus, preventives can be purchased in their Adoption Center 7 days/week until 6:30 p.m. Ⓟ

Quiz:

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