What You Should Know About Heart Worms in Dogs

 

As their name suggests heartworms live in the heart of a dog where they can do a lot of damage. It is important for a dog owner to be aware of the dangers of the parasitic heartworm. A responsible dog owner must be alert to the risk of a heartworm infestation and take preventive measures. If an infection is suspected you must seek treatment from your veterinarian.

Heartworms are also known by the Latin name of "Dirofilaria immitis." They normally live in the right ventricle of the heart where they float freely near the blood vessels. They are transmitted by mosquitoes that pass them from dog to dog in their saliva when they bite an animal. So even your dog does not come into contact with other dogs it is at risk. Cats are also prone to them.

An infestation of heartworms goes through four stages. The treatment prescribed by a veterinarian will depend on what stage the dog has reached.

In the first stage a dog that has been infected with heartworms by a mosquito bite will not show any signs of infection. The heartworms will not even show up in a blood test. This is why prevention is important. Speak to your veterinarian about heartworm prevention when your dog is still a puppy. A dog that is older than seven months can have an adverse reaction to treatment. So tackle the issue before it reaches that age.

The worms have to mature and make their way to the heart before they can be spotted by any tests. This is the second stage of the disease. By then the signs of a heartworm infestation can be detected by x-ray. The heartworms damage the blood vessels around the dog's heart and lungs and this can be picked up on an x-ray. The dog may also be short of breath and coughing.

The rate at which damage takes place depends on the number of worms. But it is rare for a dog to be infected by only one worm. A heavy infestation will rapidly cause a blockage of blood flow. This is the third stage. The dog may be showing signs of weight loss. Tests may reveal liver and kidney damage. This is the third stage of the disease.

As the blockage to the blood flow becomes more severe the dog may exhibit symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, lethargy and hypertension. The dog may even faint. A heart attack is possible.

In the fourth and most serious stage the dog experiences what is known as Vena Cava Syndrome. The dog is in a state of shock and dying. The only possible intervention at this advanced stage is surgery to physically remove the worms. Success is by no means guaranteed.

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