Heartworm disease is one of the most dangerous and potentially fatal diseases a dog can contract, and pet owners should be aware of the risks and understand how to prevent, detect, and treat it. As veterinarians, we’d like to share an overview of heartworm disease in dogs, including what it is, how it’s transmitted, how to detect and diagnose it, and how to treat it. If your dog needs a veterinarian in Loveland, OH the vets here at East Hills Veterinary Clinic are committed to providing the highest quality and best service to pet owners, and we believe that educating dog owners about heartworm disease is the best way to keep their furry friends healthy.
What is Heartworm Disease and How Can It Affect My Dog?
Heartworm disease, also known as dirofilariasis, is a severe and potentially fatal disease caused by a blood-borne parasite or worm known as Dirofilaria immitis. The adult heartworms inhabit infected dogs' hearts, pulmonary arteries, and adjacent large blood vessels. They can live for five to seven years, and a single dog may host as many as 300 worms. Female heartworms produce millions of offspring called microfilariae, which mainly reside in the small vessels of the bloodstream.
Heartworm disease can cause lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries affecting the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone.
How Would My Dog Catch Heartworm?
Heartworm disease is spread via the bite of an infected mosquito. When a mosquito bites a dog, it transmits the infective larvae into the dog’s bloodstream. These larvae then migrate to the heart and adjacent blood vessels, where they mature into adult heartworms, mate, and produce offspring.
Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 states of the U.S. but is most commonly found in the Southeastern United States, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries.
Can Dog Heartworm Be Prevented?
Preventing heartworm disease is the best defense against this serious health risk. Preventive medications are available only by prescription from veterinarians and come in various forms, including monthly chewable pills, topical “spot-on” medications, and injectable medications given every 6 or 12 months. Some preventives only protect against heartworms, while others protect against other parasites, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas, ticks, and mites. It is very important that you discuss with your veterinarian to determine which product fits your dog, the lifestyle of the pet and the needs of their owners. Please talk with your vet to discuss the most suitable option for your canine companion.
Regular veterinary check-ups are also essential in the early detection and prevention of heartworm disease, as vets can detect signs and symptoms of heartworms that the pet owner may miss. Additionally, providing dogs with a diet consisting of whole-food ingredients can enhance their overall health and potentially increase their resistance to parasites.
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What Are the Early Signs of Heartworm in Dogs?
The first signs of heartworms in dogs can be subtle and don’t usually manifest immediately after infection. Most infected dogs show signs and symptoms in five to six months. A soft, dry, persistent cough is one of the earliest signs of heartworms in dogs. This occurs because the adult worms interfere with breathing by residing in the lungs and associated blood vessels.
Other early signs of heartworm disease can include difficulty breathing, decreased appetite, fatigue, and exercise intolerance.
What Are The Middle to Late-Stage Symptoms of Heartworm?
If the disease is left untreated, it will progress to more severe and potentially fatal stages. Symptoms of heartworms in the middle to late stages can include abnormal sounds when breathing, weight loss, lack of appetite, coughing, lethargy, enlarged liver, bulging ribs, heart murmur, and abdominal swelling.
In extreme cases, heartworm disease can cause a sudden blockage of the pulmonary artery, leading to shock or sudden death.
How Do We Treat Heartworms?
Before starting heartworm treatment, your dog may need to be stabilized with appropriate therapy. At Cincinnati Family Vet, we use the American Heartworm Society guidelines to treat your dog. This includes bloodwork and chest radiographs (X-rays) prior to starting medications. We start your pet on Doxycycline to help eradicate a common bacteria located within the heartworm, Wolbachia, which has shown to increase the complications of treatment. Your dog will also be started on steroids to decrease inflammation.
For your dog's heartworm disease, we use two injections of medication (Melarsomine) are given 24 hours apart, then another injection is repeated 30 days later to treat your dog. These medications will kill the adult worms. Your dog's body will then remove the worms via natural pathways. It is extremely important that you keep your dog extremely quiet during the treatment period. During this time, your dog is at risk of pulmonary thromboembolism from the dying worm pieces. Strict leash walks, no rough-housing or playing with other animals is a must.
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How Soon Should I Bring My Dog to the Vet for Heartworm Prevention?
Puppies can begin heartworm preventative medication as young as 6-8 weeks old. If your pup is a little older, they need a heartworm test before starting preventative medication.
You must also administer the preventive medication on time, every time, to ensure its effectiveness. Even if you don’t live in an area where mosquitoes carry heartworms, your dog should still be on preventive medication year-round.
How Will a Veterinarian Diagnose If My Dog Has Heartworm?
A simple blood test is the most common way to diagnose heartworm disease. This test detects the presence of antigens produced by adult female heartworms. We recommend having your dog tested for heartworms annually.
If your dog tests positive for heartworms, additional tests may be needed to determine the severity of the disease and the best course of treatment. These tests may include X-rays, ultrasounds, electrocardiograms (ECG), and other specialized laboratory tests to evaluate organ function.
Why Is Early Detection and Diagnosis of Heartworm Important
Early detection and diagnosis are essential for preventive and curative heartworm treatments. Treatment is much easier, faster, and less expensive when the parasites are detected early. Early detection can also help prevent further damage to the heart, lungs, and other organs.
It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heartworm in dogs so you can seek veterinary care at the earliest sign of infection. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian are essential to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment before the disease progresses.
Conclusion
Heartworm disease is serious and potentially fatal for dogs, and knowing how to prevent, detect, and treat it is vital. Preventing heartworm disease is the best way to protect your pet from this health risk, so talk to your vet. Regular veterinary check-ups are also essential for the early detection of heartworm in dogs.
If you live in or near Loveland, OH, and are looking for quality pet care, come visit us at East Hills Veterinary Clinic where your pet is our priority. Contact us at (513) 831-7444 to set an appointment, or email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you! Don't forget to follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram.