Heartworm disease is a serious condition that can sham dogs and is spread through mosquitoes . It can be deadly , so intervention and prevention is critical for keeping your pet respectable .
According to estimates by theAmerican Heartworm Society , more than one million blackguard in the United States are infected with heartworms . These tight parasites can cause serious , lasting problem in dearie , including death . And while treatment is typically effective , it total with a mellow price tatter , some risks , and a lot of hassle . Year - roundprevention , compound with yearly heartworm examination , is by far the best pick for the health of your dog ( and your wallet ) .
What are Heartworms?
Heartworms ( also calledDirofilaria immitis ) are parasites that infect the affection and lungs of move animals , causing a condition call heartworm disease . The worms look standardized to cooked spaghetti and can farm to be around 12 inch long . Dogs ( as well as Fox , coyotes , and wolves ) arenatural hostsof heartworms , intend the parasites can get on , mate , and multiply while inhabit inside them . However , other creature , including bozo , black-footed ferret , sea lions — and yes , even humans!—can also be infected with heartworms .
How Do Dogs Get Heartworms?
Mosquitosplay a key purpose in channel heartworms . Jackie Kleypas , DVM , a clinical instructor at theUniversity of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicinein Columbia , Mo. , describe the process as follow :
TheAmerican Heartworm Societynotes that grownup heartworms can live up to seven years in a pawl , meaning each mosquito time of year can increase the number of worms in an septic pet . If leave untreated , dogs can terminate up have C of heartworms .
Are Some Dogs More at Risk for Heartworm Infection?
Heartworm disease has beendiagnosed in every stateand is constantly broadcast to new regions . The Companion Animal Parasite Council ( CAPC ) hasparasite prevalence mapsthat can show you the figure of positive canine heartworm trial in your area . It also has a30 - solar day sponge forecast mapthat rates infection risks from low to high by body politic and by county .
But even if you do n’t live in a high - risk area , any dog-iron that come into contact with mosquito is at jeopardy . And because mosquitos can participate homes or bite dogs on bathroom breaks , even dogs who spend most of their clock time at bottom can get the parasite .
What Are the Symptoms of Heartworm in Dogs?
According to Kleypas , most Canis familiaris diagnose with heartworms do n’t show any house ( especially if they are inactive ) . yearly heartworm screenings during a pet ’s annual test tend to catch the parasites before they ’re able to cause obtrusive problem . The longer a ducky is infect and the more worms they have , the more likely they are to have clinical signs . Kleypas says the most commons sign let in :
She also says more serious symptom of heartworm in dogs occur in dogs with a lot of louse , including :
How Is Heartworm Disease Diagnosed in Dogs?
Because the outcome of heartworm disease get worse with sentence , it ’s authoritative to have your dog screened for heartworms at least once a yr . Kleypas explains that this masking typically occurs during your hotdog ’s annual wellness test and involves two different tests : an antigen test and a microfilariae test . Neither test is 100 percent exact , but using them in compounding can yield good result :
Annual testing is necessary for all dogs — even those on class - round heartworm bar medication because no heartworm preventative is 100 percent effective , and mosquitoes can still infect your dog if you forget to give him his monthly pane of preventive or give it late , your dog spits out the meds when you ’re not look , or he rubs off a topical preventative .
How Are Heartworms Treated in Dogs?
If your dog prove positive for heartworms , your veterinary will first intimately evaluate your bounder to check that he ’s level-headed enough to undergo treatment , Kleypas says . This will include origin trial and pectus hug drug - ray . Some dogs with serious infections need month of supportive therapies before they ’re unchanging enough to be treated for heartworms . Your vet will also ask you torestrict your click ’s exercise , as strong-arm exertion can travel rapidly up heart and lung damage in infected dog .
Once your dog is determined to be healthy enough for heartworm discourse , the accurate course will depend on the harshness of the disease .
Medication
handling typically involves multiple injections ofmelarsomine , the only approve drug that kills adult heartworms . extra medicine may also be needed to kill microfilariae , reduce redness , control pain , or protect against bacterial infection . At the end of treatment , your pawl will be placed on a monthly heartworm preventative medicament .
Melarsomine contains arsenic , and while that ’s in force at kill heartworms , it can also total with some serious side result , including , but not limited to
It ’s very important for dogs to remain at rest before , during , and after melarsomine discourse to reduce the risk of blood clots forming in the lung . Your vet will discuss exercise confinement and othercare guideline , so be certain to follow them for your frank ’s safety .
Photo: charlene jones / Getty
Surgery
Dogs withcaval syndrome , in which the heartworms physically block the parentage vessel of the affection , will need to have the worm surgically get rid of before they can start the normal treatment authorities . unhappily , dog who have caval syndrome rarely pull round .
Success of Treatment
Kleypas says that while most dogs test negative for grownup heartworms after treatment , success can be costly in footing of clip , money , and troublesomeness ( for example trying to keep your high-pitched - energy dog as calm as possible ) . It is n’t easy on the patient either . Moreover , dogs can carry the consequences of contagion for the rest period of their lives .
" firedog with no signs or mild signs of disease at the metre of handling will often onlyappearto amply recover , " Kleypas explains . " But there are often microscopic signs of lasting scathe done to the dog ’s blood vessels years after successful treatment . A cad can be heartworm - contagion negative but incessantly have heartworm - assort disease . "
How Can Heartworms Be Prevented?
The good word : " Preventing heartworm disease is far easy and less expensive than treat it , " Kleypas explains . There are several yr - round preventative options uncommitted , and your veterinary will exploit with you to find the best one for your pet . As an added fillip , many of these medications preclude other filthy leech likefleas , hookworms , whipworms , and nematode worm .
Whether your dog is a puppy or an adult , you will need to talk with your vet before starting your dog on a heartworm preventive . Dogs over seven months of years need to be test for heartworms first , as preventative medications can cause harm if the dog is already infect . Dogs and puppies that have just start heartworm bar will also necessitate to be tested more frequently . In gain , it ’s important to try any Canis familiaris rescued from regions where heartworms are dominant .
