Heartworm: A Preventable Disease Making a Quiet Comeback

Is heartworm still a risk for dogs in Sydney? Recent clinical cases at Summer Hill Village Vet confirm that heartworm disease is returning to the Inner West. While annual injections previously made cases rare, changing weather patterns and mosquito activity mean heartworm prevention is now more critical than ever for Sydney pet owners.

A Message from Sandra Hodgins, owner of Summer Hill Village Vet: The Return of Heartworm to the Inner West

For many years, heartworm felt like a disease of the past in Sydney’s Inner West. When I worked as the veterinarian overseeing heartworm testing at Renbury Farm Pound between 2000 and 2013, we routinely diagnosed positive cases — sometimes weekly. After the annual heartworm injection became available in Australia in the early 2000s, cases dropped dramatically.

For many years we saw no cases at the pound. Since we opened Summer Hill Village Vet in 2008, we saw only one case in our first 15 years.

Recently, that has changed.

Shiva, a beautiful two-year-old Staffy cross adopted last year, living in the Inner West, recently presented to us with a severe case of heartworm disease. Her signs included coughing, breathlessness and weight loss. Diagnostic testing revealed adult heartworms lodged in her pulmonary arteries — a life-threatening condition.

Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and can remain silent for months before symptoms appear.

Shiva’s treatment will take many months and must be done slowly and carefully; if too many worms die at once, it can trigger severe inflammatory reactions or even sudden death. There is hope for Shiva, and we are cautiously optimistic —but she remains at risk throughout the treatment period.

Heartworm is entirely preventable. We recommend ongoing prevention from puppyhood and, for most dogs, the annual heartworm injection provides the most reliable protection. For dogs with an unknown prevention history — especially newly adopted dogs — a heartworm blood test at acquisition, followed by a repeat test six months later, is considered good practice. It’s also important to seek veterinary advice before starting heartworm medication in dogs with uncertain histories, as certain products may cause reactions in animals that are already infected.

We are sharing Shiva’s story not to alarm, but to bring awareness. Heartworm has quietly returned to our community. Early detection and consistent prevention spare dogs the prolonged and dangerous treatment Shiva now faces. If you are like many of us and find it challenging to give monthly medications on time every month, consider the yearly injection instead. If you’re unsure about your dog’s heartworm status or prevention plan, speak with your veterinarian — a simple conversation can prevent a heartbreaking outcome.

Don’t leave your dog’s health to chance. If you’ve missed a month of prevention or recently adopted a dog with an unknown history, let’s get them back on track safely. Call Summer Hill Village Vet on 9797 2555 to book a heartworm check or to discuss the annual ‘set-and-forget’ injection.” You can also book online using our online booking widget.