Parasite:
Mosquito transfers worm larvae from infected dog to your dog; larvae develop into worms that live in the heart and it’s vessels.
What You Should Know:
This common parasite got its name because the adult worm lives in the right side of a dog’s heart. Adult worms look much like cooked spaghetti – long, white and slender. In the United States, documented heartworm disease in dogs dates back to 1857.
Mosquitoes transmit heartworm disease. Because mosquitoes thrive in warm, moist climates, heartworm infection rates are highest within 150 miles of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and along the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
Dogs with adult heartworm are the source of heartworm for other dogs. Mosquitoes that feed on an infected animal ingest the larvae and transmit them when the mosquitoes bite another animal.
In areas where there are many dogs, there is a better chance of an infected mosquito finding a susceptible host. The damage that heartworm can cause depends on the number of worms present and the dog’s activity level. If not properly treated, infection can cause damage to the dog’s pulmonary circulation, heart, liver and kidneys. And while signs of heartworm disease can have an acute – or sudden – onset, chronic (long-term) infection is more common.
In the early stages of the disease, many heartworm-infected dogs show no visible symptoms. But as adult worms mature, dogs may begin experiencing inflammation and narrowing of the lungs’ arteries. This can raise the dog’s blood pressure and eventually cause failure on the right side of the heart.
In mild to moderate cases, dogs will have an ongoing cough, decreased interest in exercising, and breathing difficulties. In moderate to severe cases, dogs may cough up blood. In severe cases, congestive heart failure can occur.
Heartworm disease can be deadly, but it can also be treated successfully. See your veterinarian about preventing heartworm in your dog.
Life Cycle:
Most Common Signs of Infection:
- No sign at first, then:
- Mild, persistant cough
- Reluctance to move or exercise
- Tiredness after moderate exercise
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
Disease Progression (of left untreated):
Heart failure, lung disease, sudden death
Diagnosis:
Simple blood test: SNAP 4DX (can detect four infections in one blood sample in less than 10 minutes)
Other tests:
Complete blood count, chemistry profile, urinalysis, other special tests, depending on initial findings and clinical signs.
Prognosis:
If caught and treated early, the outcome is usually very good for a full recovery from symptoms. Some of these infections cannot be cured completely, but early intervention usually provides the best prognosis.
Vaccine Available?
NO
Other Prevention:
Heartworm pills and topical preventatives (typically monthly)
