Spring is finally here. While warmer weather may bring spring flowers, it also brings a threat to your dog's health--mosquitos and heartworm. Heartworm treatment can be very hard on a dog and his owner's pocketbook, whereas the preventative is simple and relatively inexpensive. Knowing about the disease and how to prevent it could save your dog's life!
Canine heartworm disease, so named because the adult worms live in the right side of the dog's heart, is common and appears to be spreading. It has also been recorded in other animals such as foxes, wolves, cats, ferrets, and, although extremely rare, man. It is spread by the common mosquito and can be found throughout the world.
Infection in the dog begins when the larva from an infected mosquito are deposited on the skin. They borrow into the dog, undergoing several changes, eventually developing into small white worms. This can take 3-4 months. The worms then enter the blood stream and migrate to the heart. There the worms become sexually mature and reproduce. Up to 5000 immature worms can be derived from a single adult female in a single day.
Since an adult worm can live up to five years and grow from 4 to 12 inches long, they cause extensive damage to some of the dogs' vital organs. The lungs are the first to be damaged. As the disease spreads, the heart becomes enlarged and does not function normally. This leads to liver and kidney damage and usually death.
This is another situation where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Heartworm disease can be treated but it is expensive and also risky for the dog. On the other hand, prevention consists of giving small doses of a medication that destroy the younger stages of the parasite after it first enters the dog. These medications come in daily pills, or a very convenient once a month dose. You must see your veterinarian prior to starting your dog on these medications for a simple blood test to ensure that your pet is not already infected. Never give your dog preventative medication if he already has heartworm -- you may kill him.
Contact your veterinarian if your dog has any of these symptoms: dry and frequent coughing, rapid tiring during exercise, sluggishness, labored breathing, weight loss, fainting, swollen stomach.
Many veterinarians now feel that heartworm preventative should be given year round. If your dog has not been on preventative or if your veterinarian recommends a yearly blood test to confirm your pet is heartworm free -- Spring is the season!
