Heartworms in Dogs

What Does Heartworms in Dogs Mean?
Heartworms in dogs is a dangerous disease caused by parasites (worms). It is also called dirofilaria immitis. It is transmitted by the infected mosquitoes carrying the larvae. Although, humans and other animals can also be infected by heartworms, dogs are more prone to this disease. Cats are more resistant to heartworms in the early stage as compared to dogs. Heartworms come under the category of ringworm. Heartworms are 6 inches long and mostly live in the lungs, pulmonary veins and right side of the heart. One dog can have 300 worms in its body at a time. However, heartworm in cats it is commonly found in the lungs. Outdoor pets are more likely to get infected as they are more prone to mosquito bites. Heartworms in dogs can be really dangerous and prove to be fatal. Heartworms disease in dogs is mostly found in the US, especially in the western region, due to large open fields. Heartworms in dogs is not a contagious disease and can spread only due to mosquito bites.

Heartworm Life Cycle
Heartworms in dogs are mostly found in the pulmonary veins and heart. It is rarely found in other parts of the body. They can stay in the body for 5 years, during which the females reproduce microfilaria. These microfilaria are found in the blood, mostly in the tiny blood vessels. However, they cannot grow in the dog's body and need the mosquitoes during their growing stage. They do not cause the same amount of infection as the adult heartworms, but they do cause some problems. Heartworm disease in dogs is caused only by mosquitoes. The female mosquito bites the dog during which the microfilaria gets transmitted in the mosquito's body. They stay in the mosquito's body for 10 - 30 days after which they turn into infective larvae and settle in different parts of the mosquito's mouth. They are called infective larvae, because if the mosquito bites any dog after that, the dog will get the heartworm disease and the infected larvae will turn into adult heartworms in the dog's body. After attaining maturity, the infected larvae enter the bloodstream and move towards the heart and arteries. They start reproducing after 2 - 3 months, thus completing the heartworm life cycle.

Dog Heartworm Symptoms
Heartworm symptoms in dogs cannot be detected easily .Sometimes, the veterinarians also cannot diagnose the problem in the early stage. Let us have a look at the different symptoms of heartworms in dogs.

• Coughing is the most common and one of the early symptoms of heartworms in dogs. It is mostly dry cough due to the parasites affecting the lungs which can cause irritation. People might get confused and think it is kennel cough. This symptom can become more critical leading to prolonged severe coughing.
• Fatigue is a noticeable symptom in case of playful dogs. Do not ignore if your dog has stopped playing or gets tired very easily. Take your dog to the doctor immediately before its state becomes more critical.
• Your dog can face breathing difficulty in case of heartworms. It might suffer from breathing problems which need to be treated instantly.
• Loss of appetite is also a symptom which should not be ignored. It is fine if your dog skips a meal or two because of indigestion or stomach problems. But it should be treated if it continues for a longer time and results in weight loss and weakness
• Heartworms in dogs can also lead to jaundice which is a very severe condition. The dog will have to be operated in this case. The doctor will remove the worms through surgery. Jaundice occurs due to liver damage which can also result in liver failure.
• The ultimate and the worst symptom is when your dog collapses. It is a condition where it will be very difficult to save your dog and will mostly lead to its death.

It is therefore very necessary to look after dogs and prevent the heartworm disease from affecting them.

Heartworm Medication For Dogs
Heartworms in dogs is a very severe disease which should be prevented. We all know that prevention is better than cure, hence, the dogs should be tested regularly in order to detect heartworms at an early stage. The heartworm detection methods include blood tests, which can be done at an early stage when the dogs are in a good condition, and through ultrasound and X-rays of the lungs and the heart. The ultrasound method is usually used after the dog is infected. The prevention treatment available for dogs is very effective, easy, inexpensive, and has many options like daily and monthly chewables and tablets, injections (which can be given every six months) and monthly topicals. However, the heartworm treatment for dogs is quite expensive ( can go up to $1000), has side effects, and takes a long time. The adult worms in dogs can be killed by using an antibiotic named adulticide which is injected into the muscle, and the dogs are usually hospitalized during the treatment. The doctors can also include heartworms prevention drugs in the treatment to avoid re-infection.

"I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that." ~ W. Dayton Wedgefarth. Indeed, dogs are our friends and it is our duty to take care of them. Heartworms in dogs needs to be taken care of very seriously. So, prevent your playful creatures from this dreadful disease so that they can stay healthy and play with you. I am sure even you would always like to see them in the active state of life.