Care and Prevention of Pet Heartworms

If an animal is diagnosed with heartworms, treatment may be indicated. Surgical removal of the adult heartworms is also a treatment that may be indicated, especially in advanced cases with substantial heart involvement. Prevention of heartworm infection can be obtained through a number of veterinary drugs.

Preventive drugs are highly effective and when regularly administered will protect more than 99 percent of dogs and cats from heartworm. The majority of heartworm larvae do not survive in cats, so unlike in dogs, a typical infection in a cat is 2 to 5 worms. The life span of heartworms is considerably shorter in cats, only two to three years, and most infections in cats do not have circulating microfilariae.

Cats are also more likely to have aberrant migration of heartworm larvae, resulting in infections in the brain or body cavities. Acute heartworm disease in cats can result in shock, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, and sudden death. The dog heartworm is of negligible public health risk, because it is unusual for humans to become infected. In most cases, however, the heartworm dies shortly after arriving in the human lung, and a nodule, known as a granuloma, forms around the dead worm as it is being killed and absorbed. This may well be the most significant medical consequence of human infection by the dog heartworm.

In heartworms, a mosquito serves as the intermediate host for the larval stage of the worm, also known as the microfilariae. Adult heartworms can reach 12 inches in length and can remain in the dog’s heart for several years. Female heartworms bear live young thousands of them in a day. The first sign of heartworm infestation may not manifest for a year after infection, and even then the soft cough that increases with exercise may be dismissed as unimportant by the owner.

The weather must be warm enough to allow heartworm larval development within the mosquito. When these conditions come together, an area becomes endemic for heartworm disease. All dogs, regardless of age, sex, or living environment, are susceptible to heartworm infection.

How can I tell if my pet has heartworm disease.

Dogs: If your dog has been recently or mildly infected with heartworms, it may show no signs of illness until the adult worms have developed in the lungs and signs of heartworm disease are observed. Numerous diagnostic tests are available for your veterinarian to detect the presence of adult heartworm infection (> 6 month old infections) in your dog.

Important factsAbout Heartworm

* Heartworms are a parasitic worm (about the diameter of thin spaghetti) that normallylive free floating in the rightventricle of the heart and nearby blood vessels.
*  Heartworm isdiagnosed with blood tests, and/or X-rays, along with other tests.
* Heartworms arenot detectable with the commonly used antigen blood test until they aresexually mature (about 6 months after entering the patient).
*  Dogs should betested FIRST before starting heartworm preventatives unless they are lessthan 7 months old.
*  Dog`s over 7months of age that are started on preventative without first testing forHeartworm are at an increased risk of developing severe reactions.
* Puppies shouldbe started on Heartworm preventative by 8 weeks of age  (depending on the product being used) and then blood testedat 7 months of age.

The important thing for dog owners to remember is that a great deal of damage can occur before any outward signs of heartworm disease are noticed. Although a dog can lead a nearly normal, healthy life with a few heartworms in its system, in advanced stages the disease may cause its victim to have difficulty breathing, cough, tire easily, become listless, lose weight or faint. We hope that it answers your questions on heartworm disease.

Written by Troy Foote. Pet advocate and owner of Pamper Pet Care Your online resource for pet health care and nutrition. To learn more about this disease and how to prevent and treat other pet related health issues please visit us today and download your free copy of Healing Your Dog At Home Ebook.