Heartworm
My-Dog.info > Dog Diseases, Bites, Worms & Ticks
by Capt. Kristie Souders Atlanta Section, Tennessee Valley
District Veterinary Command
While relaxing at home on a hot Sunday summer afternoon, I
received a frantic call from an anxious pet owner. He quickly
stated the problem—his dog had a swollen abdomen, was passed
out in the back yard and now had difficulty breathing.
When I met the owner just a few moments later at the
veterinary clinic, the dog was dead. After running a simple
diagnostic test, I realized that heartworm disease had claimed
the life of another family pet.
Heartworm disease is a serious yet preventable disease spread
by mosquitoes. A female mosquito ingests heartworm larvae from an
infected dog while obtaining a blood meal. The larvae further
develop inside the mosquito, and then the mosquito injects more
mature larvae into another susceptible dog. This dog becomes
infected with heartworm disease.
The heartworm larvae migrate in the dog's body from the area
of the mosquito bite and eventually enter the dog's blood. Adult
heartworms develop in the right side of the heart and major lung
blood vessels, causing damage to these vessels and obstructing
normal blood flow. Over 250 adult worms may develop in a dog's
heart and vessels. Direct infection from dog to dog does not
occur. The heartworm larvae must develop inside the mosquito to
reach their infective stage.
Many dogs do not have symptoms of heartworm disease until
severe infection occurs. Common early symptoms include coughing
and difficulty breathing. Decreased ability to exercise,
abdominal swelling, and muscle wasting occur as the disease
progresses. Finally, death results from heart failure.
Treatment of heartworm disease is not without risk, and each
dog must be thoroughly evaluated to determine the likelihood of
treatment complications. Treatment is also expensive.
The treatment protocol consists of two phases. During the
first phase, the dog is given medication to kill the adult
heartworms. Any physical exertion must be prohibited for several
weeks following this treatment. The second phase of treatment
occurs several weeks later when medication is given to the dog to
kill the heartworm larvae. The dog is subsequently placed on
heartworm prevention.
Heartworm disease is an illness that can be easily prevented.
Heartworm preventives are available as daily or monthly chewable
tablets, as a 6-month injection, or as a monthly topical
application. Most heartworm preventives also provide some
protection against some intestinal parasites.
Dogs over 6 months of age should be confirmed
heartworm-negative by a simple blood test before beginning any
type of heartworm prevention. Year-round prevention is
recommended in climates that support year-round mosquito
activity.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"
certainly applies to heartworm disease.
By taking simple preventive measures, your dog will live a
much longer, healthier, happier life. See your veterinarian for
further information and recommendations regarding heartworm
prevention in your area.
|
