Heartworm Prevention, Symptoms & Treatment

Heartworms are a common concern for pet owners. Heartworms in dogs can be very serious as the larvae can grow in the animal’s blood blocking major blood vessels. Heartworms can be contracted through a single bite from an infected mosquito. If not treated, dogs can experience serious organ damage that can lead to death. It is very important to get immediate treatment if you notice any symptoms.
 

Causes of Heartworm Infection

Heartworms get into the animal’s bloodstream through mosquito bites. When mosquitoes are exposed to microfilaria or tiny baby worms from an infected animal, the worms mature into larvae. The contagious larvae are then transferred to a host animal when the skin is punctured through a bite. The larvae mature into adult worms within six months before beginning to reproduce. Dogs tend to be natural hosts to the heartworms, making the pets quite vulnerable.

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm disease can be very costly to cure, and yet it is avoidable. The condition is relatively easy to prevent. Safeguarding your pet from heartworm disease is vital. Prevention is highly effective, and it can help you to save money and future heartache. Prevention targets the parasites in the larvae stage. Preventive medication becomes ineffective when the larvae mature to the adult stage, which happens after around 60 days. Heartworm prevention products are effective.

Symptoms of Heartworm

During the early stages, heartworm infection can go unnoticed. As the disease continues to progress, some symptoms become evident. Some of the symptoms include decreased energy, a persistent mild cough, and lack of appetite. Weight loss and fatigue after regular exercise may also be symptoms of heartworm disease.

Heartworm Testing

It can take up to six months or more for heartworms to develop the proteins that trigger positive results. This means that if testing is not done regularly, it is easy to miss a heartworm infection. A vet must carry out annual testing. The testing is done through a simple blood test. The vet can perform the testing during routine pet checkups. Testing is important even if the pet is on a heartworm prevention plan.

Heartworm Treatment

The objective of heartworm treatment is to get rid of the parasites while ensuring the pet remains comfortable. The vet will have several treatment procedures for the different animals. Treatment includes restricting physical activity, specific medication, and stabilizing any existing medical conditions. The quicker the heartworm infection is identified, the easier it is to reduce long-term damage to the lungs, heart, and arteries. Follow-up testing is necessary after six months.

A heartworm infection can cause heart failure, too much fluid in the abdomen, and cardiovascular disease. If your pet has pale gums or develops labored breathing or if you notice bloody urine, visit a veterinarian immediately. It is important to remember that a serious infection can result in death. If you live in an area with many mosquitos, talk to your vet about heartworm prevention medication for your pet. If your location has a low mosquito population, you still need to adopt prevention measures for your pet.

To learn more about heartworm, call Dr. Mike’s Affordable Vet Care at our office in Arlington, Texas at (817) 663-8160 to schedule an appointment today.