Heartworm Treatment Protocol

Dogs are highly susceptible to heartworms.

Heartworm disease is an extremely serious problem that affects both dogs and cats. Dogs are very susceptible to heartworm infection, which infected mosquitoes transmit. Although cats are less likely to contract heartworms, they are far more likely to die once infected, since there is no feline heartworm treatment. Pet owners should familiarize themselves with symptoms of heartworm infection in their pets, as well as the procedures involved for treatment.

Recognizing Symptoms

Heartworm infection can go undetected for long periods of time, perhaps even years, but there are some symptoms pet owners should know. Some common symptoms include labored breathing, weight loss, lethargy, coughing and overall lack of energy. Although these symptoms are sometimes visible in infected animals, they are not a reliable indicator of heartworm infection. Pets, especially dogs, should be taken to a veterinarian annually for heartworm tests.

Testing for Heartworms

Taking your pets to the veterinarian for a blood test is the only sure way to know if they are infected with heartworms. The veterinarian takes a small amount of blood and normally runs the test immediately in the clinic. Thus, results become known in a matter of minutes.

Treating Immature Heartworms

If microfilaria, or immature heartworms are present in your dog, your veterinarian can treat them with oral medication. Ivermection and Milbemycin are two common drugs used to treat heartworm microfilaria, and are available in prepacked products such as Heartgard and Interceptor. The veterinarian often gives the medication immediately after a positive microfilaria test and instructs the pet owner on future dosing.

Treating Adult Heartworms

If adult heartworms are present in the infected animal, a stronger drug must be used. The most common drug used is Immiticide, and the veterinarian administers it by injection into the muscles in the back surrounding the spine, according to Pet Place. The injections are normally given on two consecutive days, with the animal remaining in the clinic for observation for adverse reactions to the drug. Heavily infected animals may receive three injections spread out over one month, with one injection at the start of the month, followed by two more injections on consecutive days at the end of the same month.

Confinement and Exercise Restriction

After administration of treatment, Pet Place states that the infected animal must be kept from exercising. This is to prevent the dying heartworms from breaking apart and blocking blood vessels, causing a pulmonary thromboembolism, which could be fatal. By limiting exercise for one month following treatment, the treated animal's heartworms will die and slowly disintegrate inside the body. Veterinarians often recommend the animal be kept in a cage or crate for periods when its activity cannot be monitored or kept to a minimum.

Give Monthly Heartworm Preventative Medicine

After treatment, the animal should be placed on a monthly heartworm preventative medicine, such as Heartgard, or Inteceptor. This stops future infections, since the medicines provide Ivermection and Milbemycin to kill any immature worms in the bloodstream, according to Pet Place.

References

• Pet Place: Heartworm Disease in Dogs

Resources

• Dog Health Care Information: Heartworm Information