Heartworms in Dogs

Archive for the ‘Symptoms’ Category

Your pet dog could be mildly or severely suffering from heartworm disease. Heartworm condition is an aggravating condition that may lead to a dog’s death. There are also an increasing reported incidents that heartworm can also be deadly in cats. With the grave affliction of heartworm among pet animal’s health, immediate treatment is needed to counteract the disease and prevent more risks that will lead to pet animal’s deaths.

Heartworms are about 6-12 inches parasites that reside in the dog’s heart and liver that can cause deleterious health condition and even death among dogs. It mainly affects the right chamber of the heart, the pulmonary artery as well as the vena cava of the heart. The mode of transmission is carried around by mosquito bites. Heartworms may be transmitted by mosquitoes that may have sucked the baby heartworm from an infected dog and then bite a healthy dog thereby transmitting the heartworm to the new prey of the mosquito. The larvae (baby heartworm) will then migrate into the dog’s heart or its liver where it will live to grow into a mature heartworm which takes about at least 6 months.

Heartworm symptoms are usually not seen in the early stage of the disease. Dogs may appear to be healthy but along the progression of the disease, heartworm symptoms begin to surface, usually when the heartworm inside the dogs has grown into adult heartworms that can cause irreparable damage to the dog’s body system. Common heartworm symptoms in the early stage of the disease may include heart irritation, thickening of the blood vessels with resulting blockage of blood flow. Some heartworm may involve the liver with significant blockage of the liver’s blood vessels that results to liver damage and eventually liver failure.

The disease process usually takes longer periods, about 1 year, before heartworm symptoms are exhibited by dogs. It may begin as a mild cough that pet owner may disregard as a simple illness. The heartworm symptoms will then progress into a worsening condition that will cause the dog to be in respiratory distress. More coughing and further fatigue with breathing difficulties will be experienced by the dog as the heartworm symptoms progress. Disregarding the telltale heartworm symptoms will result to the severe progression of the disease and can risk the life of the dog. With liver involvement, the heartworm symptoms will include jaundice, appetite loss and collapse of the liver.

Treatment of heartworm symptoms during the initial stage can significantly save your pet dog’s life. There are many pet medications available that are indicated for treating heartworm symptoms. However, preventive measure is better than giving treatment to heartworm disease. Preventive measure may include providing preventive medicine against heartworm such as Heartgard, Revolution, Sentinel and many other pet medicines designed to protect your dogs against heartworm and at the same time provide control to growth of intestinal parasites. Mosquito control should also be observed to prevent transmission of the disease.

Awareness of the different telltale heartworm symptoms can save your dog’s life. Preventive treatment should be provided in order to raise a healthy dog free from heartworm disease and its debilitating symptoms.

Because they pose a serious threat, all dog owners should be aware of heartworm symptoms. Left untreated, the disease can be fatal. These parasites can paralyze the heart and kill the animal suddenly and without warning.

Signs and Indicators

The symptoms of this disease may not appear until it is in the latter stages. For this reason it is important the dog gets a regular checkup with the vet. The most conspicuous symptom is coughing. The cough will be dry and soft.

When dogs get this cough, it is sign the parasites have found their way into the lungs. Apart from coughing, the dog will exhibit no interest in exercise or play.

The dog will prefer to stay in one corner. Their appetite will decrease and sleep in the doghouse (if it has one). Other symptoms that may manifest include wheezing, vomiting, breathing difficulties and diarrhea. As the condition worsens, the rib cage swells up and the stools become bloody.

Not all of these symptoms will appear and that is what makes diagnosis difficult. Coughing, the most common sign of the illness, could easily be mistaken for ordinary cough.

How Heartworm is Transmitted

The most common method is by mosquitoes. For this reason, dogs outside the house are more prone to infection. When the parasites get into the body, they move into the heart as well as the other major organs in the body.

Their major targets are the veins connected to the heart. From there, they will move on to the liver and the lungs. Eventually the organs will cease to function and kill the animal.

Treatment and Prevention

The best way to battle this disease is to prevent it. There are several medications you can give your pet. When you take the dog to the vet for its monthly check up, ask for medication to protect the animal from heartworm and other diseases.

Read the instructions on the package and follow it. Give only the recommended dosages. These medications are preventive in nature; do not wait for the heartworm symptoms to appear before you administer the medication.

There are also vaccines against this disease. They are administered monthly by the vet. The vaccine works by eliminating the parasite larvae. Some of the drugs used are melarsomine dihydrochloride and thiacetarsamide sodium. A clean environment, together with regular checkup, will give your dog a better chance against the disease.

Keep Mosquitoes Away

Keep your yard and garden clean. Remove any dirty water that has accumulated. Mosquitoes are attracted by a damp environment, so keep the garden clean. The same goes for inside the house.

Do not assume that just because the dog is in the house it is safe. It is particularly important that you keep your house and surroundings clean especially after rain.

Because the heartworm symptoms are so common, it is vital that you are aware of the treatments and how it can be prevented. Even with the various drugs available, nothing is guaranteed. For this reason, knowledge is very important.