Everything You Need To Know About Heartworms and How to Prevent Your Dog From Getting Them

Admin • February 14, 2018
Bichon Frise — Cheerful Dog Breed in Citrus Heights, CA

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, heartworms have been reported in dogs in all 50 states, which means all dogs are at risk of contracting heartworm disease. Heartworms, or Dirofilaria immitis , are transferred from infected mosquitoes to your beloved pet when the insect bites your dog.

A pup with heartworms can suffer heart failure, organ damage, lung disease and even death. Since you likely won’t know that your canine has had any contact with an infected mosquito, learn all you can about heartworms and how to prevent them. After all, prevention is the most important thing you can do.

How Heartworms Operate

Heartworms only measure 1/100th of an inch long, but they do a lot of damage over the course of their lifetime. Once inside your dog's body, the heartworms travel to the heart via the bloodstream. They then begin to grow and produce offspring. It’s not uncommon to find up to 15 heartworms, measuring up to 12 inches long, inside a dog.

Symptoms of a Heartworm Infection

While a dog with a heartworm infection may not initially show symptoms, they will begin to suffer the longer the infection is allowed to continue.

The first thing you'll notice is your once energetic friend no longer wants to go outside to exercise. They may become tired after a little physical activity and their appetite may decrease, which can lead to weight loss. Next, the dog will develop a cough that just won't go away.

As the infection becomes more serious, you may notice your pet has a swollen abdomen, abnormal lung sounds and a weak pulse. The pup may even pass out at times, as their blood flow becomes restricted.

The last sign of a heartworm problem is the diagnosis of caval syndrome. This syndrome shows up through pale gums, urine that resembles the color of coffee and difficulty breathing.

How to Prevent Heartworms

Heartworms are not contagious; a dog cannot transfer the worms to another dog. A pup can only become infested with the heartworms if they are bitten by an infected mosquito, so you do not need to separate your animals if one tests positive to prevent the other one from getting sick.

A Macrocyclic Lactone medication effectively kills heartworm larvae before they have a chance to mature into adults. Your veterinarian will use this type of medicine to prevent a heartworm infestation.

You need to give your dog the heartworm preventative once per month throughout the duration of their life. You can give this medication along with the pet's monthly flea treatment to keep the pup healthy. Doing this together will hopefully help you remember.

What to Do If Your Dog is Already Sick with Heartworms

If your dog was not on a regimen to prevent heartworms and you notice they exhibit the symptoms mentioned above, your veterinarian will first need to run a few tests to confirm the disease. These tests include blood work, a radiograph, an ultrasound and an echocardiogram.

Once heartworms are confirmed, your dog will be given Immiticide, which is the only drug available in America to treat mature heartworms. If your pet is not responsive to this medication or already quite sick, the veterinarian may recommend surgery to physically remove the worms from your pet's heart.

To learn more about protecting your dog from heartworms, contact Sylvan Corners Pet Hospitalto talk with one of the veterinarians on staff. Our practice also offers flea prevention, grooming services, spaying and neutering surgeries, and boarding. The hospital is also able to treat your pet for an emergency needs that may arise as well.

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