Information on Heartworms for Dogs
Heartworms infect more than 30 species of animals, not just dogs. Once a dog is infested, the worm can live up to seven years, growing, reproducing and damaging a dog's health or killing it. Up to 45 percent of unprotected dogs in the more heavily infested coastal states have heartworms.
-
Mosquito's Role
-
When a mosquito bites an infected dog, heartworm microfilaria are ingested with the dog's blood. They form into larva, then gather in the mosquito's mouth. These larvae are deposited on dogs the mosquito feeds on. They burrow into the dog's skin, grow and finally enter the blood stream.
Heartworms
-
The larvae in the dog grow, develop and reproduce. Within a year, the worms grow to be 4 to 16 inches long, living mainly in the heart, lungs and blood vessels.
-
Damage
-
The amount of damage depends on the health of a dog and how heavily infested it is. Some dogs might have only a few heartworms, while others might have more than 200. These worms clog the heart and lungs, causing damage or even death if untreated.
Treatment
-
Treatment can be costly and some dogs die from it. There are chemicals to kill the worms and surgery if heavily infested.
Prevention
-
A dog can be tested for heartworms. If it is clear, heartworm prevention medications will help keep a dog free from having heartworms or needing treatment to remove them.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Wikipedia
