Heartworms in Dogs

Heartworm is a common parasite in dogs, cats, and sometimes, even human beings. Heartworm is a form of roundworm; with the scientific name Dirofilaria immitis, which is transmitted from one host to another through mosquitoes. The hosts of the heartworm parasite are the mammals infected, while the mosquito is labeled as a vector.

Mosquitoes are not infected by the heartworm parasite. They only carry the infective stage of heartworm to a new host, which it then infects.

The parasite is known as the heartworm because at its final stage of development, the parasite migrates to the heart of the host, and stays there for up to several years. Having the heartworm parasite in the heart of the host will cause congestive heart failure in the host leading to the host’s death.

Heartworm can be very fatal to dogs. If the parasite was not removed, it can kill the host. In some cases, the adult stage of the heartworm parasite has to be removed from the host through surgery. During the surgery, the heartworm is removed from the right atrium of the heart.

To prevent the development of heartworm in the host, a treatment of Ivermectin, the most popular brand name known is Heartgard, is given for a period of one year. Ivermectin is effective against the larval forms of the heartworm parasite and keeps the parasite from multiplying and developing into the adult stage. Ivermectin kills the heartworm parasite by damaging it’s nervous and muscle system, thus, causing the parasite’s death.

Before Ivermectin is administered to the host, a blood test should be done first to determine if the host is really infected with heartworm. Upon confirming a positive result, it also has to be determined if the adult forms of heartworm are already present. If so, treatment with Ivermectin may not start until the adult heartworms were eradicated from the host’s system.

It is important that the dog be tested immediate upon suspected infection with heartworm due to mosquito bite. During the first six months of infection, the dog may not show signs of the heartworm infection. It is also possible that the heartworm larvae, instead of going to the host’s heart, migrate to the eyes, an artery or the brain. The heartworms may also damage some vital organs including the kidney, the liver and the lungs.

This is the reason that as early as possible, you have to bring your dog to a veterinarian to be checked for heartworm. At later stages, the heartworm infection becomes more difficult to treat.

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