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Heartworm Disease in Dogs
What is heartworm disease?
Canine heartworm disease is a serious, deadly disease affecting
thousands of dogs each year. Because of a parasite that lodges
in the heart commonly known as heartworms, many dogs become
permanently debilitated or die from lung, heart, or circulatory
problems.
How does my dog get heartworm disease?
(1) The tiny immature heartworms are transmitted ONLY
through the bite of a mosquito.
(2) At first, the parasites move into your dog's tissues.
Eventually they reach the heart and become lodged there.
(3) As the worms grow and reproduce, immature heartworms are
released into the blood stream.
Now mosquitoes can bite your dog and pick up these new
immature heartworms and transmit them to another dog.
Is heartworm disease serious?
Yes, it's very serious. Heartworms interfere with the normal
flow of blood from the right side of the heart to the vessels
serving the lungs. If left untreated, canine heartworm disease
can significantly reduce your dog's quality of life, cause
congestive failure of the heart and other organs, and ultimately
can lead to death.
What are the symptoms of heartworm disease?
Early symptoms are discreet and you may not be able to
observe them. Infected dogs become less active and tire easily.
As the disease progresses, symptoms may include a soft wheeze
or cough, weight loss, tiredness and even fainting. Adult
heartworms are usually found in the heart and major blood
vessels and sometimes in the lungs and liver. They can grow
from 5 to 14 inches in length and in severe cases over a
hundred may be present.
How do I know if my dog has heartworm disease?
Diagnosis of heartworm disease is determined by examination
of the blood under a microscope to determine if the immature
heartworms are present. Occult heartworm disease (heartworm
disease without the presence of immature heartworms
circulating in the blood) is present in 20% to 30% of dogs.
Detection of the adult heartworms in the heart is possible
through the use of an antibody blood test.
Can heartworm disease be prevented?
Yes, heartworm disease can be prevented. There are chewable
forms of heartworm prevention that must be given once a
month. This type of prevention can be started at 2 months of
age to protect your pet against heartworms. Although these
heartworm preventions are very effective, yearly heartworm
tests are necessary to assure that your pet has not been
infected with this disease.
Don't gamble with your pet's life!
In Texas alone there were over 38,500 reported cases of
heartworm disease. Contact us about the heartworm preventive
program that will best protect your pet! Don't let your pet
become one of these statistics.
What is heartworm disease?
Canine heartworm disease is a serious, deadly disease affecting
thousands of dogs each year. Because of a parasite that lodges
in the heart commonly known as heartworms, many dogs become
permanently debilitated or die from lung, heart, or circulatory
problems.
How does my dog get heartworm disease?
(1) The tiny immature heartworms are transmitted ONLY
through the bite of a mosquito.
(2) At first, the parasites move into your dog's tissues.
Eventually they reach the heart and become lodged there.
(3) As the worms grow and reproduce, immature heartworms are
released into the blood stream.
Now mosquitoes can bite your dog and pick up these new
immature heartworms and transmit them to another dog.
Is heartworm disease serious?
Yes, it's very serious. Heartworms interfere with the normal
flow of blood from the right side of the heart to the vessels
serving the lungs. If left untreated, canine heartworm disease
can significantly reduce your dog's quality of life, cause
congestive failure of the heart and other organs, and ultimately
can lead to death.
What are the symptoms of heartworm disease?
Early symptoms are discreet and you may not be able to
observe them. Infected dogs become less active and tire easily.
As the disease progresses, symptoms may include a soft wheeze
or cough, weight loss, tiredness and even fainting. Adult
heartworms are usually found in the heart and major blood
vessels and sometimes in the lungs and liver. They can grow
from 5 to 14 inches in length and in severe cases over a
hundred may be present.
How do I know if my dog has heartworm disease?
Diagnosis of heartworm disease is determined by examination
of the blood under a microscope to determine if the immature
heartworms are present. Occult heartworm disease (heartworm
disease without the presence of immature heartworms
circulating in the blood) is present in 20% to 30% of dogs.
Detection of the adult heartworms in the heart is possible
through the use of an antibody blood test.
Can heartworm disease be prevented?
Yes, heartworm disease can be prevented. There are chewable
forms of heartworm prevention that must be given once a
month. This type of prevention can be started at 2 months of
age to protect your pet against heartworms. Although these
heartworm preventions are very effective, yearly heartworm
tests are necessary to assure that your pet has not been
infected with this disease.
Don't gamble with your pet's life!
In Texas alone there were over 38,500 reported cases of
heartworm disease. Contact us about the heartworm preventive
program that will best protect your pet! Don't let your pet
become one of these statistics.