Heartworm Prevention in Dogs

Heartworm, scientific name Dirofilaria immitis is a deadly parasite that infects several pet dogs worldwide. As the name signifies, heartworm makes its way to the heart and causes life-threatening symptoms. The most worrying fact about this dog illness is that it is asymptomatic in the early phases. Hence by the time, heartworm is diagnosed, it is already in the advanced stages. In order to avoid such a case, the most practical way is to learn all about heartworm prevention in canines and keep your pet away from this fatal disease.

Heartworm Symptoms in Dogs

As with any type of internal parasites, heartworms in dogs is dreadful and cause serious symptoms. After infection, the worm infects the heart, which then spreads to other vital organs such as lungs and liver. The most noticeable heartworm symptom is continuous coughing, which may be soft or dry. This is mainly because of the heartworm that spreads to the lungs and also, in the blood vessels near the lungs.

The signs and symptoms of heartworm include lethargy, increased fatigue, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite and weight loss. Over a period of time, heartworm multiplies in large numbers, thus irritating the lungs and causing severe cough. Also, in the later stages, the affected pet may manifest jaundice symptoms. In case a pet dog collapse without any apparent reason, heartworm may be the root problem.

Heartworm Prevention Measures

If diagnosed in the early stages, heartworm treatment involves administration of strong drugs, so as to kill adult worms in the heart and lungs. Very often, the dying and/or dead worms obstruct the blood vessels, resulting in certain dog health problems and complications. Thus, the most effectual measure is to prevent your pet from getting infected by heartworm, which can be achieved by the following ways:

Regular Blood Testing
As a pet owner, it is very important to get your dog tested for heartworm infection. Heartworm prevention for puppies or dogs include visiting the veterinarian for blood testing on a regular basis, particularly if you are residing in area where heartworm incidence is very high. Routine blood testing will help in identifying the overall health condition of the pet dog. Even if the pet is infected with heartworm, the disease can be diagnosed and treated effectively without severe complications.

Avoid Exposure to Heartworm
Heartworm is spread via mosquito bites, wherein a mosquito after sucking blood from an infected dog carries heartworm larvae and inject them in another dog. Hence, mosquitoes serve as a vector for these worms. Preventing pet dogs from getting bitten by mosquitoes is the most practical step. You can keep the dog kennel clean and less accessible to mosquitoes.

Heartworm Prevention Medication
Another method to prevent heartworm disease is administration of therapeutic drugs and injections. Heartworm preventive oral tablets are available, which are formulated with antiparasitic medication. Usually, such a drug is prescribed once in a month or once in a year. Some manufacturers use a broad spectrum medicine to prevent all types of worms such as heartworms, flatworms, roundworms, hookworms, etc. You can consult the veterinarian regarding the best heartworm preventive medicine.

This was a brief overview regarding heartworm prevention in dogs. In recent times, veterinarians found out that this parasite also infects cats in the same manner as it does in dogs. But, the symptoms of feline heartworm infection is less severe as compared to that of dogs. For either of the pets, heartworm prevention is safe and less expensive, rather than treating symptoms that are manifested when the worms attain maturity and spread to vital organs of the body. The ideal period to start heartworm preventive program is when the pet dog is below one year old.