In the southern U. S., especially the Gulf Coast and Florida, where mosquitoes are present year-round, the threat of heartworm disease is constant. The primary vector of dog heartworm in Southern California, Aedes sierrensis , is found locally throughout Los Angeles County. Dogs travelling with their owners to these endemic areas may acquire heartworm and bring it back to Los Angeles County where the vector mosquito occurs. Under ideal conditions, small outbreaks of dog heartworm could be observed. Click on picture below for distribution map.
Early detection is important to enable prompt treatment to destroy the adult heartworms.
Another reliable method is to take X-rays. When heartworm disease is confirmed, a treatment program is set up to remove both adult worms and microfilariae. Treatment, Prevention And Control Heartworm disease in dogs and cats is a serious and potentially fatal disease. Always consult your veterinarian for treatment and prevention of the heartworm disease in dogs and cats. The adulticide treatment is expensive and involves some risk to the animals.