Symptoms of Heart Worm Disease

Video Transcript

"Hello my name is Dr. James Dee. I'm with Hollywood Animal Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Clinical signs of heartworm disease are going to be very similar to those of heart failure. You may have a mild cough, you may have tiring on exercise. You may possibly have fainting. Nose bleeds. You may have congestion in the lungs. You could have fluid development into the abdomen. The classic is a tiring on exercise. Fortunately now with testing that's available we can test usually before we get to the point of getting to clinical signs. There are pulmonary changes in the vessels that occur in the lungs. This is what contributes to the coughing. So let me repeat, the symptoms of heartworm disease can be very similar to any of those of heart failure. Ascites fluid in the abdomen, coughing, fluid in the chest, nosebleed because of the way the blood is affected by part of the heartworm or collapsing. Any of these signs can develop. Heartworm preventatives are extremely important for your pet in the prevention of heart worm disease. Now heartworms are transmitted by mosquito bites. So letting your pet go out early in the morning or in the evening certainly is a opportunity for infestation. But the preventative at least most of the preventatives on the market today are given on a monthly basis. They may either be a tablet, a chewable tablet or they may be a topical that's applied to the back of the neck. All of those products at this time are extremely safe."