DOG HEARTWORM CAN LEAD TO CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
So just what are dog heartworms, it’s just what it sounds like, thin spaghetti-like worms that can grow up to twelve inches long and that live inside the dog’s heart. If untreated they can lead to congestive heart failure.
Heartworm isn’t a disease you can wait on. Prevention is part of taking good care of your dog. Even if your dog doesn’t spend a lot of time outdoors, there’s a good chance they’ll become infected without treatment. This disease is much more common then you think.
DEALING WITH DOG HEARTWORM
Fortunately, heartworm disease is one on a long list of problems that dog owners have the power to prevent. Even if a dog gets infected with heartworms there’s a very good chance of recovery – but only with treatment, which can be expensive.
As with all diseases, earlier is better when it comes to diagnosis. You must consult your veterinarian about heartworm prevention and treatment.
Here’s what you should know about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for heartworm disease in dogs.
SYMPTOMS OF HEARTWORM DISEASE IN DOGS
If you haven’t had your dog tested for heartworm, schedule an appointment, even if you don’t notice any signs of infection. Without this testing, early detection can be difficult because there may be no visible symptoms.
A dog with mild heartworm disease may have just a slight cough. Those with moderate cases often begin to show intolerance toward exercise and may produce abnormal sounds in the lungs. As the disease progresses, the dog may become lethargic, lose appetite, and have weight loss.
THE CAUSES OF HEARTWORM DISEASE IN DOGS
The infection starts when a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae bites the dog. The larvae then burrow beneath the skin and molt two times, eventually emerging as immature worms inside the body. This can take 50 to 68 days. After the immature phase, they will travel through the bloodstream to the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries. Heartworms mature in about six months and can live as long as five years. Dogs with a heavy heartworm infestation can have as many as 250 worms, but even a few are too many.
THE TREATMENT
Standard tests for heartworm disease include a heartworm antigen test that detects the presence of adult female heartworms or a microfilaria concentration test that checks for immature worms. Because of the evolving lifecycle of heartworm, false negatives aren’t uncommon. For instance, as many as 25 percent of dogs with heartworm will produce a negative result in the microfilaria concentration test. This is what’s known as an occult infection. It may mean that a heartworm preventative is killing the immature worms, but adult worms may still be present. Therefore, if you suspect your dog has been exposed, the vet may run more than one test.
If the vet determines that there is an infection, they may recommend an ultrasound or an x-ray, which is the best way to determine the severity of the infestation.
The treatment has two goals: kill adult heartworms, and kill all microfilariae or immature worms. Dogs with mild or moderate cases of heartworm disease usually do very well with treatment.
In adult dogs, vets usually inject medication to kill heartworms. They may then give dogs several days of rest before administering necessary follow up injections over the course of a few days. Sometimes it’s best if the dog remains in the hospital for a time following injections.
When it comes to older dogs, your vet may recommend not treating heartworm disease because of the increased risks to the dog’s health from the dying worms may be too great. There is a risk that the dying worms can cause a blockage of the blood vessels, which can be fatal in severe cases.
Once home, exercise will be off-limits for a period of time, and as the dog recovers over the next one or two months, only leash walking will be allowed.
PREVENTION
Your vet will test for heartworms during annual checkups and recommend a prevention course of treatment. Infection and reinfection are prevented by the use of preventive heartworm medicine, which will eliminate any microfilariae present.
The American Heartworm Society now recommends year-round heartworm protection in all areas of the country. One reason is to get dog owners into the habit of consistent prevention. But mosquitos may appear at unusual times, too, such as a warm spell in the winter or early spring.
Many preventive treatments are available, including chewable, tablets, and topical treatments. Consult your vet for recommendations.
CONCLUSION
Always be aware of the signs of heartworm. Make sure you have annual checkups and listen to your vet
‘s recommendations. Just taking these steps may end up saving your dog’s life.
