Animal & Bird Medical Center of Palm Harbor
Medical Database

Cardiovascular Disorders

Heartworm Disease:Removal of Microfilariae

General Information
After your pet has been treated for adult heartworms, the immature worms (microfilariae) must be removed from the blood to prevent your pet from serving as a source of infection for other dogs.

Microfilariae are eliminated with medication. After the treatment period, a blood sample will be checked. If microfilariae are still present, treatment is repeated until the blood is free of microfilariae.

After the doctor is certain that all microfilariae have been eliminated, a program of preventive medication is instituted so your dog does not become reinfected.

An Important Update From Animal & Bird Medical Center On COVID-19

We are committed to offering a safe and healthy environment for our clients, pets and hospital team here at Animal and Bird Medical Center. The best way to avoid becoming ill is to avoid exposure to the virus. Taking typical preventive actions is key.

In being cautious and mindful of everyone’s safety, we are actively working to minimize your exposure to crowded exam rooms and long waits in the lobby.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made some changes to our protocols in-hospital for the time-being…

In order to limit exposure while still providing quality care for your pet, we will be implementing special protocols to keep you safe.

We will have our veterinary technicians get a history of the patient’s symptoms and owner’s concerns via phone prior to coming into the clinic.

Our goal is for you to be able to bring your pet in for medical care but have no risk for you or our dedicated staff of transmitting the COVID-19 virus.

The Doctors and staff are dedicated to making sure your pet’s medical needs are taken care of during this national crisis.

We can still fill prescriptions for pick up, however, for those who prefer, non-narcotic and non-urgent prescriptions can be mailed to your home.

As always, careful hand-washing and other infection control practices can greatly reduce the chance of spreading any disease.