Dogs & Heartworms
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are a preventable disease that is wide spread in dogs across the United States. Infection is spread through mosquitoes and is a difficult disease to treat.
-
The Facts
-
Adult heartworms lay small microfilariae which live in the animal's bloodstream. When a mosquito sucks blood from an infected dog it will carry the microfilariae (which then grow into larvae) and deposit them in the next animal they feed off of.
Infestation
-
Once the larvae are in the skin of your dog, they grow and travel up the bloodstream until they settle in the heart. The worms can block the blood vessels between the heart and lungs, and in severe cases can take over the right ventricle of the heart. An adult heartworm can measure 14 inches and a dog may be infested with several hundred worms at once.
-
Signs
-
Usually the first sign of heartworm infection is a cough. Some dogs may have a decreased appetite, lethargy, and weight loss. If heartworms reach adulthood in your dog, he may die of sudden heart failure.
Prevention
-
There are many prevention measures that can be taken. If you live in an area where mosquitoes are prevalent, keep your dog indoors at night (as much as possible). Your vet will also prescribe a once-per-month heartworm medicine. This can be administered by a pill your dog will eat or by an injection. Also, routine testing for heartworms is important because early detection is essential to treatment.
Treatment
-
If your dog is infected he will need to be treated with Melarsomine (Immiticide®). This medication contains arsenic to kill the worms and is injected deep into the muscle. The length of treatment depends on the severity of the infestation and may need to be repeated. In severe cases, the heartworm may need to be surgically removed from the heart.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of tanakawho
