What is Heartworm Disease in Dogs?

Heartworm disease in dogs can be a serious issue. Why? This disease can strike at the hearts of dogs that is why it is so serious. The cause of it is actually the Dirofilaria immitis, which is a worm.

How Does a Dog Become Infected with Heartworms?

The mosquito is what spreads the heartworms from and infected dog to another dog. The female heartworm produces many young ones called microfilaria. Then they live and mature in the mosquito for up to a month. When a mosquito bites the infected dog it picks up the microfilaria, and then it bites an uninfected dog it then gets transmitted to that dog.

How Do the Microfilaria Mature?

Then the microfilaria starts to mature within the dog traveling to the dog's heart and nearby blood vessels. In the heart these heartworm larvae mature completely in about 2 to 3 months. The female heartworm can grow to be about 6-inches to 14-inches long and about 1/8-inch in width, the male grows to about half of this size. As many as 300 heartworms can infect one dog.

What Effect Does the Heartworms have on a Dog?

The adult heartworms can cut off the flow of blood to the heart by blocking the blood vessels. They also hamper the valve functioning in the dog's heart. This diminishes the blood flow to other parts of the body too to the point where organs begin to malfunction.

Do the Dogs Show any Outward Signs of this Disease?

This disease is slow growing so it can take up to two years for the dog to show symptoms. However, it is in the advanced stages by then. Some common symptoms the infected dog will have are a chronic cough, hard time breathing, being weak, low stamina, listlessness nervousness. These symptoms are most evident after the dog has had some physical activity.

How is Heartworm Disease Diagnosed?

The veterinarian diagnoses the heartworm disease through a blood test. Further testing such as X-rays, blood chemistries and EKG might need to be done though, to see the extent of the damage to the dog's organs if the condition is advanced. When caught early enough though, treatment can be given. Each dog has to be analyzed though to see if it can tolerate the treatment for heartworms. The dog is given injections at various stages to kill not only the adult heartworms, but the microfilaria too.

Can Heartworm Disease be Prevented?

Yes this disease can be prevented by giving heartworm preventative to the dog as prescribed by the veterinarian. Regular testing also will be done to make sure the dog does not have heartworms.

Heartworms are just one reason why a checkup at the veterinarian should be done at least once a year on your dog. This is one disease that is so damaging if it gets in the advanced stages. You want to prevent it as much as you can. Diligent care is the only way. So keep up with your visits to the veterinarian for your dog's sake.