Canine Heartworms

Canine Heartworms - What All Dog Owners Need to Know

Heartworms, technically known as Dirofilaria immitis, are small parasites that often infect their host through a mosquito bite and then spread from one animal to another. All sorts of animals can get heartworms, including common pets like dogs, cats, and ferrets. Several wild animals, like coyotes, wolves, and even sea lions, are affected by heartworms and sometimes people can become infected by the parasites as well. It is important to protect your dog from canine heartworm infection.

The small parasite is placed into a host animal’s bloodstream through a single mosquito bite. After being bitten, the worm will grow inside the host for almost seven months before becoming an adult. Heartworms gained their name because once they mature, they infect the heart of the host animal, living there for years until they are either removed by extensive medical treatments or cause heart failure and kill the host.

Heartworms are quite common among dogs, especially in the United States. This sometimes fatal disease was discovered in 1856 and it was found that the parasites live primarily in the animal’s major blood vessels and, finally, within the heart. Canine heartworms, if left untreated, can cause serious problems in the heart’s process and can block the flow of blood through the animal’s blood vessels. Weight loss, vision complications, respiratory problems, chronic coughing, heart failure, and, finally, death are also associated with heartworm infections.

Heartworms affect different dogs in various ways and in many dogs, symptoms of the infection are not apparent until the disease is almost impossible to cure. It is very important to catch a canine heartworm infection early on or, better yet, to protect your dog from becoming infected with a monthly precautionary treatment recommended by your veterinarian.

Your vet will first perform a simple blood test on your dog to see if any heartworm parasites have already taken residence. If the test shows positive results, your dog will have to go through a long, often painful, treatment to get rid of the heartworms. Canine heartworm treatment can sometimes include surgical procedures as well. If the test returns negative results and your dog is free of heartworms, the monthly preventive treatments can be administered.

Early Symptoms

There are several warning signs that your dog may have contracted canine heartworms. Contacting your vet about any of the following symptoms as soon as they are noticed could save your dog’s life.

Unusual tiredness that can not be explained
Frequent coughing that is unusual
Hunting dogs that often fall behind or drop out completely from tiredness
Unusual panting for no apparent reason
Rare symptoms include jaundice, complications with vision, and convulsions
Sudden, unexplained weight loss is a symptom that often occurs shortly before the dog dies from canine heartworms

What Breeds are Affected by Canine Heartworms?

It was once believed that short-haired breeds were more easily infected by heartworms. The reasoning behind this was because the parasite bearing mosquitoes that infect the dog have a very hard time biting a long-haired dog through the extra hair.

It was later discovered that mosquitoes actually bite canines in the stomach area where the hair is fine. With this knowledge, it is now known that all types of dogs are susceptible to the canine heartworm disease. It is also common for dogs to suffer from mosquito bites on their ears or their mouth and nose because these areas typically have little hair as well.

How Are Canine Heartworms Treated?

When a canine heartworm infection is noticed early, a series of chemical treatments can be used to treat the disease. These treatments are administered over an extended period so the worms are killed slowly, rather than all at once. The dead heartworms remain in the dog’s body and usually take several weeks to be absorbed. Too many of these carcasses can create serious, often deadly, complications. Any type of chemical therapy can be dangerous to your dog as well if it is not handled by a professionally licensed veterinarian. Always allow your vet to perform these procedures and follow his instructions closely.

Surgery is sometimes a practical remedy for a dog infected with canine heartworms. Talk with your vet about the various options available for curing your dog and decide on the one you are most comfortable with.

Canine Heartworm Recovery and Prevention

After a chemical heartworm treatment, it is very important for your dog to take it easy and not become overexerted. Too much activity can cause the dead heartworms to fall into the lungs, resulting in breathing difficulties and most often death. Keep your dog comfortable and relaxed for several weeks to allow the dead worms to be absorbed.

It was once recommended that dogs recovering from canine heartworm infections be given aspirin to speed the healing process and lessen damage to the heart. The American Heartworm Society now urges dog owners to refrain from using aspirin during recovery. It could cause adverse reactions to the chemicals and there is no proven medical evidence of the benefits of aspirin for heartworm recovery.

Canine heartworm prevention medications are a great way to protect your dog from heartworms. These treatments don’t stop the infection. Rather, the drug produces a chemical that affects the heartworm parasite early, preventing the worms from becoming adults and killing them before they infect the heart. Heartworm prevention treatments are over 99 percent effective when used correctly. Most of the cases of failure were due to irregular usage.

Treatments that prevent canine heartworms are given each month during mosquito season, beginning as soon as mosquitoes start to appear. The treatments should be continued until a month after mosquito season is over for the best results. Dogs living in warm, moist climates, especially near the Gulf Coast or tropical areas, should be given the treatments year round because mosquitoes are common in every season.

These preventive canine heartworm medications can cause severe, often fatal, complications if your dog is already infected with the parasite. For this reason, it is very important for your dog’s safety that you consult with a veterinarian before starting any sort of heartworm treatments. Regular blood tests, along with an appropriate preventive treatment, can protect your dog from the dangers posed by canine heartworms.

Your veterinarian can provide the most assistance in keeping your dog free of heartworms. It is often hard to notice the symptoms of canine heartworm infection until it has caused serious problems. Scheduling regular blood work for your dog can help you catch these parasites before it is too late. Ask your vet about the best type of heartworm prevention treatments for your dog as well.

A final point to remember if you want to prevent canine heartworms from plaguing your dog is to do your best to protect him from the heartworm parasite carriers, mosquitoes. It is especially important to take precautionary measures during warm seasons when mosquitoes are prevalent and in areas with a large number of mosquitoes.

Canine heartworms are often difficult to detect, especially in the early stages, so even though your dog appears healthy and sound, he could still be infected. Have your dog checked regularly by your vet.

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