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How Much Does Heartworm Treatment Cost For Dogs?
Dog Heartworm Treatment CostDogs that test positive for heartworms should receive prompt treatment to prevent the disease from progressing. The cost of heartworm treatment may vary depending on your dog's size, disease severity, overall health status and treatment availability.
The table below outlines common cost ranges for different heartworm treatment methods:
Treatment Method Typical Cost Range Diagnosis/Workup $200–$300 Conventional treatment $500–$1,200 Slow-kill (not recommended) $200–$600 Surgery $3,000–$6,000 What Impacts the Cost of Heartworm Treatment for Dogs?Heartworm treatment costs depend on several factors, including the severity of your dog's infection and where you live. Veterinary care tends to cost more in areas with a high price of living, including large metropolitan areas. Additionally, severely infected dogs typically require more testing, medications, monitoring and support than dogs with mild infections.
Factors that may influence the cost of heartworm treatment include:
Veterinarians can diagnose a heartworm infection based on a routine screening blood test, which is recommended annually for all dogs. Additional blood tests and chest X-rays are often required to confirm the diagnosis and check for visible heart or lung damage.
Most infected dogs are initially asymptomatic because heartworms have a prolonged life cycle. Damage does not occur until the worms reach the heart and lungs and grow to full adult size, which takes about seven months. Untreated heartworm infections can lead to symptomatic heartworm disease. Signs and symptoms of heartworm disease may include:
Advanced heartworm disease is sometimes risky to treat because the dying worms can overwhelm the dog's body or cause a blood clot in the lungs. Because of these risks, late-stage infections cost more to treat than those identified in the earlier stages.
Heartworm Treatment MethodsThere are several stages to heartworm treatment, depending on the severity of your dog or cat's case. Expect to pay for veterinary consults, an initial diagnosis, treatment, follow-up testing and preventative care to ensure your pet remains heartworm-free. A heartworm treatment plan aims to kill adult worms and circulating larvae and reduce or eliminate complications so that heartworm disease does not progress.
Only one medication — melarsomine — is approved to kill adult heartworms in dogs. Conventional treatment requires a series of melarsomine injections, strict exercise restrictions, antibiotics, and steroids given over a few months. If melarsomine is not available, a slow-kill method can be used but is not recommended as a first-line treatment. Dogs may require surgery in severe cases.
Initial Veterinary Consultation and DiagnosisAfter an initial consultation, many vets order an antigen or microfilaria test to diagnose heartworm disease in pets. A heartworm antigen test is a type of blood test that can detect the presence of adult female heartworms in dogs. A microfilaria blood test can confirm that at least one male and one female heartworm are present.
According to PetMD by Chewy, the average cost of a heartworm test, such as an antigen or microfilaria test, is around $35 to $75. However, note that the American Heartworm Society recommends both tests to ensure a proper diagnosis — meaning you could pay anywhere from $70 to $150. Your vet may also order a chest X-ray. When you also consider the cost of the consultation, which typically runs between $25 to $186, you're looking at potentially paying hundreds of dollars to confirm heartworms in your pet.
Conventional TreatmentConventional treatment is recommended for most infected dogs because it has been proven effective in killing about 98% of worms in a dog's body. Heartworm treatment requires multiple steps over four to five months, including:
Most asymptomatic dogs fare well with treatment, but side effects are more likely in advanced infections. Possible side effects from conventional heartworm treatment may include:
The slow-kill heartworm treatment method was developed as an alternative to melarsomine injections when the medication was unavailable or in dogs who cannot tolerate melarsomine's effects. The American Heartworm Society cautions against using the slow-kill method as a first-line therapy because it may take several years to clear the infection, during which time the dog's condition may decline.
The slow-kill method involves one or more courses of doxycycline, which kills the symbiotic heartworm bacteria and causes the worms to wither and eventually die. Heartworm prevention is also administered monthly to kill immature larval stages throughout treatment. Although this treatment protocol costs less, studies show that complication rates may be higher than conventional treatment.
When Is Surgery Necessary?Surgery may be required to physically remove heartworms from severely infected dogs when worm numbers are so high that entire blood vessels or heart chambers are at risk for blockage. If a complete occlusion occurs, surgery must be performed immediately to save the dog's life. A skilled cardiologist can perform the procedure in a specialized facility by threading instruments through a venous catheter and pulling worms out a few at a time.
If your pet suffers from complications, it may need to be hospitalized for monitoring or supportive care. According to MetLife, the average cost of hospitalization for a dog for one to five days could cost anywhere from $600 to $3,500 or more depending on the care your pet needs.
Follow-Up Testing and Preventative CareConsider the costs of follow-up testing and preventative care when calculating the potential cost of treating your pet's heartworm infection. Once your dog or cat has completed the treatment protocol, your vet will order another round of diagnostic tests to evaluate the presence of adult and larval heartworms.
If the test is clear, your pet can be put on preventative heartworm medication to ensure an infection won't reoccur. Most vets sell monthly tablets, but you could also opt for a heartworm prevention shot that, according to PetMD, runs anywhere from $50 to $350 annually.
Importance of Heartworm Prevention for DogsHeartworm infections often prove deadly when left untreated. Although treatments are effective in most cases, the process can be pricey, risky and painful. Heartworm medication and prevention can significantly lower heartworm infection risks and eliminate the high costs of treatment. Heartworm prevention is administered as a monthly oral chew, monthly topical spot-on, or a once or twice-yearly injection and typically costs around $100 to $200 for an annual supply.
Alternative Heartworm Treatment OptionsUnfortunately, most alternative heartworm treatment methods, including herbal therapies, are ineffective. Pursuing these treatment methods will likely result in your pet's condition worsening over time. Consult a qualified veterinarian if you suspect your pet may have heartworm disease. If you cannot afford heartworm treatment, you may qualify for assistance through a local low-cost clinic or animal rescue organization.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Heartworm Treatment?Pet insurance can help cover the cost of heartworm treatment, but each policy is different. Some companies may require proof of heartworm preventive administration for a specified period before agreeing to cover treatment. Some insurance may exclude treatment entirely under a "preventable conditions" clause while others may cover treatment without restrictions. A pet insurance wellness add-on policy may help to cover the cost of heartworm preventatives.
The key to understanding your pet insurance policy is to read the fine print in your plan documents. These documents provide essential information about exclusions, deductibles, copays, annual limits, and waiting periods that may affect heartworm treatment coverage and reimbursements.
How To Save on Heartworm TreatmentHeartworm treatment can be pricey, but you can save money by purchasing a pet health insurance policy when your pet is young. However, remember that a pet insurance policy will not cover pre-existing conditions — including heartworm disease in a newly adopted dog.
Other financial assistance options include pet-specific savings funds, third-party payment plans and veterinary hospital wellness plans. Low-income pet owners may qualify for help with their pet's heartworm treatment through pet charities, local government programs or rescue organizations.
Final Thoughts on Heartworm Treatment CostsHeartworm is a devastating and often deadly disease in dogs. Using a monthly oral or extended-release injectable heartworm preventive is a cost-effective method to prevent infection and eliminate the need for costly treatments. Consult your veterinarian to learn more about preventative methods that may suit your furry pal.
Pet insurance may help cover treatment costs in heartworm-positive dogs, but this depends on the plan's specific rules. To qualify for coverage, you must purchase a pet insurance policy before your dog gets sick or tests positive for heartworm infection. The slow-kill heartworm treatment method is more affordable than conventional treatments but is recommended only as a last resort.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heartworm Treatment Cost How much does it cost to treat heartworms in a dog?The cost of heartworm treatment depends on the severity of the infection and the method used. Conventional treatment takes several months and costs between $700 and $1,500. Emergency surgery to remove heartworms may cost up to $6,000.
What is the cheapest way to treat heartworms?The slow-kill heartworm treatment method costs only a few hundred dollars, based on our research. However, it is recommended only when conventional treatments are unsafe or unavailable. Choosing this method can jeopardize your pet's health because it works too slowly to prevent disease progression.
What can pet owners do if they can't afford heartworm treatment?If you can't afford heartworm treatment, consider asking your veterinarian about a payment plan to help spread out costs. You can also seek financial assistance from low-cost veterinary clinics, local shelter programs or national pet charities.
Why is heartworm treatment so expensive?Expenses for heartworm treatment can add up quickly, including those associated with diagnostic blood work, X-rays, oral medications, hospitalization, heartworm prevention, melarsomine injections, repeat blood tests and long-term follow-up care.
Pet Patrol: Heartworm Treatment And Prevention
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The summer season is characterized by increased temperatures and humidity and also sees more mosquitos, and while there is not a "heartworm season", more mosquitos means it is more common, yet pets can be infected year round.
Which is why veterinarians recommend annual protection.
The American Heartworm Society estimates more than a million dogs in the U.S. Have heartworm disease. Heartworm preventatives come in different forms including chewable pills, topical medications which would be given monthly, or injectable medication which is given every 6 or 12 months. Heartworm presentations are available by prescription only in the United States.
There are heartworm-only preventatives but there are some medications that are more rounded when coming to protecting pets. Some medications will protect from heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas ticks, and mites.
Here is a look a common symptoms associated with heartworm disease: mild and persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, tiredness, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As the disease progresses, when untreated, it can be fatal.
More severe symptoms in advanced cases may show heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid building up in the abdomen. Blockages of blood flow can also develop. This is known as cava syndrome and will show the onset of sudden labored breathing and pale gums. Surgery to remove blockages is the only way to increase mortality at this stage.
Your veterinarian should be testing for heartworm once a year, and it is important to note heartworm is not exclusive to dogs, cats and ferrets are also at risk. Heartworm preventatives are most effective when given promptly, on the same day every month.
Thankfully, death from heartworm disease is rare. If your pet was infected the treatment includes an injection, typically melar-somine. This will kill the adult worms. It will be a series of injections. First the initial shot, then typically 30 days of rest, and two more shots 24 hours apart.
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