Heartworms in Dogs

Dogs are often infected by different parasites such as ticks and lice. One parasite that infects dogs but can not be seen by the naked eye is a heartworm. These parasitic worms are transmitted to dogs through mosquito bites. Dirofilaria immitis is the scientific name of the worm.

Heartworms in dogs mature in several months after infection. Little or no symptoms at all are seen in the six months period before the worms mature because heartworms do no harm to their host yet in their undeveloped stage.

Most heartworms in dogs end up in different parts of the body such as the eye, which in turn causes blindness. Dogs infested with the parasitic worms, although shows little symptoms, age faster than those clear of the worms. Heartworms in dogs damage the lungs, kidneys and the liver. These parasitic worms also affect the coat of infested dogs.
As the heartworms mature, infested dogs often experience chronic dry coughing because of bronchitis and the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Active dogs infested with the parasites show classic symptoms of the disease which include severe wait loss and congestive heart failure.

Blood tests are performed in dogs suspected to have heartworms.

Efficacy of the treatment of heartworms in dogs depends on when the treatment was started after infection. Dogs to be subjected to treatments are evaluated. The conditions of their heart, liver and kidneys are assessed to ensure that they can survive the treatments. Arsenic compounds are usually used to kill adult heartworms in dogs. Melarsomine dichloride is currently the most recommended compound for treating dogs infested with the parasitic worms. Another form of treatment is surgery. Adult worms are surgically removed especially if they are present inside the heart.

Treatment of the infestation is a long process because treatments used to kill adult worms are different from those performed to eradicate their young.

Dogs that underwent treatment require full rest. They are not allowed to engage in extreme physical activities in order to give their body time to absorb the dead worms without harming their health. Dogs that exert effort after treatment may suffer from worms that may go to their lungs which may lead to death due to respiratory failure. Use of aspirin to cure heartworms is not recommended because of the lack of evidence to prove clinical benefits. Treatments are successful only if tests prove the inexistence of heartworms in the body of its hosts.

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