Preventing Heartworm Disease

Heartworm is one of the most well known diseases in dogs. Heartworm is a parasite that enters the dog’s bloodstream by being bitten by an infected mosquito. The parasite is found in all fifty states in the US. Easily preventable, the treatment is often ignored by dog owners. Dogs who are infected will die without treatment. Infected dogs can be treated, but must suffer unnecessary discomfort that is easily preventable.

THE PARASITE

Heartworms have a unique life cycle that actually requires two different hosts. The female worms produce live young that travel in the host dog’s bloodstream in their larvae form, called microfilariae. The microfilariae do not undergo any changes until they are ingested by a mosquito that bites the dog. In the mosquito, the larvae begin to change and prepare to infest another dog. When the infected mosquito bites another dog the microfilariae begin he progression to adulthood. Adult worms and larvae can live in the dog’s bloodstream and lungs for several months before the dog will become sick. At some point, however, determined by the size of the dog and the number of worms in their body, the worms will travel to the dog’s heart and lodge in the right side of the heart will they will begin to reproduce. Adult worms grow to be twelve inches in length.

THE INFECTION

One of the tricky things about heartworm disease is that the dog can be infected for months or even years before exhibiting symptoms of infection, and the early symptoms are so light the dog’s owner may not notice. Infected dogs will first develop a light cough that is brought on by exercise. As the disease progresses and the worms and larvae multiply, the dog may begin to exhibit less energy than normal, and may faint. This is when the owner will probably take notice and get veterinary help. At this point, however, the dog is in grave danger.

TREATMENT

Treating heartworm disease is not easy. First the veterinarian will run some tests to determine how far the disease has progressed, and what damage it has caused. If there is liver, kidney, or heart damage, these must be treated before the worms can be killed, so the dog can withstand the treatment. Treating the disease is done by killing the adult worms. Veterinarians will administer a medication made from arsenic. The medication is given twice a day for two days, and then the dog must be kept inactive for several weeks. During this time the dog’s body will absorb the dead worms. It can be very difficult to keep a dog still for this amount of time, but it is absolutely necessary. If the dead worms enter the bloodstream they can cause death.

After the adult worms are killed and absorbed, the vet will give the dog some medication to kill the microfilariae. This medication will be continued until blood tests show no more microfilariae are present.

PREVENTION

The treatment for heartworm is prevention. It is very easy to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. Any vet’s office offers medication that is given orally to prevent hearworms. These medications resemble a dog treat and are flavored in beef or liver flavors. Dogs love them! The medications are given once a week and are extremely effective in preventing heartworm infection. It is also important to have your dog tested once a year to ensure no microfilariae are in the bloodstream, especially if you have missed any heartworm prevention doses. Preventing heartworm is perhaps one of the most important things you can do for your dog. It will unsure that you have your loving companion for many years to come!