Heartworms In Dogs - What They Are & What To Do by
Kirsten Hawkin
Heartworms (Latin name Dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic
worms that are common in both dogs and cats. Like their name
suggests, they live in the dog's heart, normally free-floating
in the right ventricle and nearby blood vessels. The worms
are transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitoes which pass
the worm larvae through their saliva. The presence of heartworms
can be very dangerous to the dog's health. Although the dog
will not display signs of infection until it has progressed
considerably, heartworms can be life threatening and are
sometimes difficult to detect and diagnose.
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Signs of Heartworm Infection
When a dog is first infected with heartworms, there
are literally no signs and the presence of heartworms
can not be detected even with a blood test. Once
the worm larva reaches the heart and matures, however,
signs that are detectible by X-ray start to develop
almost immediately. These include damage to the blood
vessels around the heart and lungs. It is rare that
a dog will be infected by only one worm and as the
mature worms in the heart grow in size and number,
the conditions worsen, eventually causing a blockage
of blood flow. It is at this point that the dog will
start to display physical signs which can include
pain, hypertension, difficulty breathing, lethargy
or even fainting. In extremely progressed cases the
dog can suffer from heart failure and death although
by the time the heartworm disease has reached this
stage the owner has probably realized that something
is going on and sought veterinary care. |
Treating Heartworm Infection
Once a dog has been diagnosed as having heartworms, treatment
must be started. What this treatment is and how it is administered
is dependant on the stage of heartworm infection. Generally,
there are four stages of heartworm disease.
• Stage One - Dogs at the lowest risk - heartworms
are detected in X-rays but all other tests appear normal.
• Stage Two - Dogs are moderately infected, may have
some difficulty breathing and be demonstrating coughing
• Stage Three - Dogs are severely affected & may
display weight loss, have difficulty breathing, blood tests
likely show kidney and/or liver damage
• Stage Four - Dogs have Vena Cava Syndrome and are
in shock, essentially dying - surgery may be undertaken to
remove worms, but there is no guarantee that it will save
the dog.
When it comes to heartworms in dogs, prevention truly is
the best medicine. The best time to begin a preventative
treatment is early in puppy-hood, before the dog is seven
months old since dogs older than seven months are at a great
risk for adverse reactions to the preventative treatments.
About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville,
TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for
more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog
travel.
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information on Heartworms In Dogs.
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