How to Treat Heartworm

Heartworm is a parasite that attacks the respiratory system of an animal. It occurs when a mosquito that carries the parasite bites an animal. The parasite travels to the animal's heart where it remains for years, growing up to 12 inches long. If your pet is diagnosed with heartworm, he must receive immediate treatment. Read on to learn how to treat heartworm.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take your pet to the vet. To determine if the animal has heartworm, a blood test is performed. X-rays will also show if an animal has heartworm.

2. Evaluate the pet. Your vet will check to see how far the disease has progressed before treatment can start. The animal's overall health will be evaluated including liver and kidney function.

3. Allow the pet to receive drug treatment. An arsenic compound is used to kill the heartworms found in the animal. Over the course of two days, the animal receives several doses of this compound.

4. Set aside some time for the pet to rest. The animal must not exert itself for several weeks. This rest period allows the pet's body to absorb the dead worms.

5. Take the animal back to the vet after several weeks. An additional treatment will be needed after a few weeks. Another blood test is administered by the vet to see if the heartworm has been cured.

6. Find out about possible surgery for your pet. In severe cases, your vet will most likely recommend surgically removing the heartworms.

Tips & Warnings

• Heartworm is a preventative disease. There are heartworm prevention programs for both cats and dogs that involve monthly doses of a deterrent medication.
• Your pet may not show signs of heartworm infection. If they are not on any preventive medicine, you should schedule a blood test yearly to check for the disease.

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