Heartworm disease is mostly preventable and certainly treatable if you catch it in time. The page below is scary and it should be but with proper care from you your dog should never suffer this fate. For those of us in Central and South Texas the risk is far greater than in some other parts of the country but care should be taken wherever you are. THIS is why we require all buyers of our sweet puppies to agree to keep their puppies on heartworm preventative for life and get annual veterinarian checkups.
This page is not all inclusive. It is strongly recommended that you do your own research. Addition reading is linked for you at the bottom of the page.
The American Heartworm Society in part says this:
“Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions and—in rare instances—humans. Because wild species such as foxes and coyotes live in proximity to many urban areas, they are considered important carriers of the disease.”
Heartworms are transmitted via mosquitoes. The female heartworm in an infected host (dog, cat, coyote, fox) produce microscopic baby worms (called microfilaria) that circulate in the bloodstream and mature into their “infective stage” in 10-14 days. Mosquitoes carry these to other animals and enter the animal through the mosquito bite wound. It then takes around 6 months to become an adult heartworm (as much as a foot long) and tend to accumulate in the heart. Each heartworm can live 5 to 7 years in the dog. More mosquitoes can mean more infections thus making even more worms.
The signs of infection are not typically noticeable for some time. The longer the infection lasts, the more worms accumulate and will typically cause symptoms like:
- Unusual fatigue
- Reluctance to exercise
- Mild or persistent cough
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Pale gums
- Labored breathing
- Bloody or very dark colored urine
Progression of the disease can cause:
- Heart Failure
- Swollen abdomen caused by excess fluids
- Blockages in the heart causing heart collapse (Caval Syndrome)
Heartworms exist in all 50 states to some degree but some are worse than others and the chances in your area can change year-to-year. Areas where there are more mosquitoes, pets and wildlife are at greater risk but all responsible dog owners should assume that their puppies and cats are at risk.
It is critical that you as a responsible pet owner do to things to prevent the horrible effects of this disease:
- Provide proper anti-heartworm preventative medications for your pet as recommended by your veterinarian
- Annual testing for heartworm infection
- Do this even though you are consistently giving them preventative medications
- The earlier an infection is caught the better your dog’s chances of surviving the treatment
If you dog gets a heartworm infection, follow your veterinarian’s advice and plan to the letter. It is not a “one shot, your cured!” recovery and takes time and coordination.
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