There are four different stages of heartworm disease. Stage one is when the dog is infected with the larvae, and you might not even notice anything at this point. Stage two is characterized by a bit of exercise intolerance and a mild cough. Stage three is more severe, with a much more hacking cough and an increased amount of exercise intolerance. Stage four is the worst stage, where the dog may exhibit severe exercise intolerance, and sometimes even collapse. At this stage, the dog is most likely in congestive heart failure and it can even lead to death.

If left untreated, worms can cause extreme discomfort, weight loss, and bloody diarrhea. In puppies and kittens, they can lead to anemia which can be fatal.

Worms live in the dog's intestinal tract and lay eggs that hatch, perpetuating the cycle. Unless the intestinal worms are eliminated, they will continue reproducing inside the intestinal tract.

The prevalence of worms in dogs depends on their lifestyle. Dogs that stay mostly indoors and are on heartworm prevention are less likely to have worms. However, dogs that often visit parks or stay outside, especially in the southeast, are almost certainly likely to have some type of intestinal worms.

Yes, two types of worms are visible. Roundworms, which look like thin spaghetti, can be seen in puppies' stool, and tapeworms, which look like grains of rice, can be seen in dogs' stool.

Worms can be painful to dogs, depending on the number they have. Roundworms and hookworms can cause discomfort in puppies or kittens, often resulting in a pot-bellied appearance. Whipworms can cause bloody diarrhea in dogs, and tapeworms can lead to an upset stomach and weight loss as they compete for nutrients.

Dogs and cats can get roundworms and hookworms from their mothers either through the placenta before birth or through milk while nursing. As adults, they can ingest the larvae of roundworms and hookworms from grass or when they lick their feet. Dogs can also get whipworms by ingesting their larvae. Both dogs and cats can get tapeworms either from ingesting a flea or eating a small mammal like chipmunks, mice, moles, squirrels, rabbits, and the like.

Yes. Vaccines prevent deadly diseases such as feline leukemia in cats, canine flu, leptospirosis, parvo in puppies, distemper in dogs, and heartworm disease. These diseases are all preventable and treatment can be very affordable. It's important to do the best you can to prevent these avoidable diseases in your pets.

Always. It's a cliché saying, but an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure. Any preventive measure you take today will be beneficial in the long run.

No, not unless it includes flea and tick medication. It's important to understand that there are a lot of ineffective, generic products on the market. Products that actually work are best recommended by a full-service veterinarian. You may have to pay a bit more, but for the best preventive care, you should get the best available products at the best price.