Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
The scientific name for heartworm is Dirofilaria immitis. Heartworms reside in the right ventricle of a dog's heart. According to Pet Education, heartworms resemble roundworms and are transmitted mainly by mosquitoes. When mosquitoes suck the blood of an infected dog and then bite a healthy dog, some of the infected blood is injected in the healthy dog. It is much easier to prevent your dog from getting heartworms than it is to treat a dog that's already infected.
Almost every puppy is treated for worms when they're young, as worms come from the puppies' mothers. Prevent worms in dogs with tips from a veterinarian in this free video on dog care.
Roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms are some of the common parasites that can infest your dog. They can cause diarrhea, weight loss or vomiting.
