Heart Worm Symptoms

Heartworm disease is an infection that can be fatal for dogs, cats, ferrets and other mammals. Parasitic thread-like roundworms live off the infected animal and eventually cause respiratory distress and death if left untreated. Regular vet visits are recommended since most animals are asymptomatic; they do not show symptoms until it is too late.

Symptoms

Most infected animals do not show any signs of disease. Blood tests are used to detect heartworms seven months after infection. Sometimes ultrasound and X-rays are taken if there is concern the pet was bitten and infected. Once the disease progresses, you may see the animal coughing up bloody sputum, difficulty running or playing, and fluid accumulation in the stomach area. The key is prevention.

Spreading the Disease

The disease spreads when a mosquito bites an infected animal. That mosquito then bites another animal, which causes the heartworm larvae to be injected into the new host's bloodstream. A larva does not reach adulthood unless it has first passed through a mosquito. The growth period of the larvae to adult worm is six months. The worms travel through the blood stream and colonize in the pulmonary arteries from the heart to the lungs. According to the American Heartworm Society, they may live inside a dog for up to seven years.

Prevention

Heartworm prevention is easy and well worth the effort of saving your pet from this dangerous disease. Any breed or age is susceptible to the illness if there are mosquitoes in the area. Chewables, tablets, topical, and injections (dogs only) are available for prevention. If administered on a schedule, these medications can interfere with heartworm development and prevent worms from reaching the lungs. Discuss these options with your veterinarian to determine the right treatment for your pet.

Treatment

Most dogs can be treated by a series of drug injections. Adulticide, given intramuscularly, can effectively kill the adult heartworms. Hospitalization is usually required so the vet can watch for a blockage in the blood flow caused by dead worms. Cats can spontaneously rid themselves of the worms. Therefore, while cats need to be watched when eliminating, there are no treatments for heartworm disease in cats.

Recurrence

While an animal is being treated for the disease, preventives are given so a recurrence is minimal. The treatment also kills any parasites in the larvae stage that are still present in the body. The cost for treating dogs can be prohibitive.

References

• American Heartworm Society
• Ask the Vet