What every dog owner must know about heartworm disease in dogs!

dog puppy stethoscope heartworm

What is Heartworm Disease? Basically, heartworm disease is caused by worms (some grow up to one foot in length) living inside your pet’s heart, lungs or the blood vessels related to these vital organs. Heartworm disease is widespread throughout the world. While some geographical areas are more prone to heartworm disease than others, dog owners everywhere should safeguard their four-legged friends against this disease.

How serious is Heartworm Disease? According to the American Heartworm Society, “Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone.”*

How Can My Dog Get Heartworm? As is the case in most easily transmitted diseases, the mosquito is the usual suspect. When an infected mosquito bites a dog, it deposits the heartworm larvae on the dog’s skin. The larvae enter the pet’s blood stream through the open wound left by the mosquito bite. Once inside your dog’s body, the larvae work their way into the bloodstream and eventually take up residence in the lungs or heart.

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Dogs are the Most Prone to Getting Heartworm Disease. Of all the companion animals, dogs are much more likely to being afflicted with heartworms. And even though the worms can be eradicated, the damage done to a dog’s heart, lungs and other major organs may be permanent.

What are the Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in Dogs? During the early stages, a dog may not display any symptom. As heartworm disease progresses, a dog might exhibit the following symptoms: persistent coughing, no desire to exercise, constant fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. In the case of dogs with a large number of heartworms, a dog may suffer a sudden loss of blood flow to its brain or organs – cardiovascular collapse. If your dog experiences the latter, take it to the veterinarian at once!

How is Heartworm Disease in Dogs Treated? Once the presence of heartworm disease is confirmed, your dog will undergo a treatment that will include exercise restriction, stabilization of the disease, administration of medication, and repeated testing.

Is there any way to prevent heartworm disease in dogs? Yes! Currently there is a wide variety of medications available to help prevent heartworm disease in dogs. They are available in chewable tablet or topical forms. A preventative medication treatment program should begin as early as possible in your pet’s lifecycle. Your veterinarian will be able to prescribe the best possible treatment for your dog.

Your veterinarian may prescribe one of the following preventative medications:
Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs, Sentinel, Tri-Heart Plus, Revolution for Dogs, or Trifexis for Dogs which not only prevents heartworm disease, but it also kills fleas and controls adult hookworm, whipworm, and roundworm infections.

In conclusion, Heartworm disease is transmitted to pets by a mosquito bite. Some geographical areas are more prone to heartworm disease than others. However, this fatal disease can be found just about anywhere. A preventative medication treatment is highly recommended to ensure your pet is free of heartworms.

*Source: Heartworm in Dogs. (2016) https://www.heartwormsociety.org/heartworms-in-dogs  Accessed on 4/12/2016.

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