Heartworm disease is a preventable, but serious and
potentially fatal, parasitic disease that primarily affects
dogs, cats and ferrets. It can also infect wild animals.
How is heartworm disease
transmitted and what does it cause?
Heartworms are transmitted from animal to animal by
mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, young
heartworms enter into that mosquito's
system. Within two weeks, they develop into
larvae which are then injected into another animal
through the mosquito's bite. Within six months, the
larvae mature into adults: during the first three
months, the larvae migrate through the animal's body
eventually reaching the blood vessels of the lungs; during
the last three months, the larvae become adults and enter the
heart. Once in the heart, the heartworms will continue to
grow to about 14 inches in length. Worms will
injure the blood vessels, resulting in severe lung and heart
disease. Heartworms may survive
for 5 to 7 years in dogs and 2 to 5 years in cats.
Where is heartworm disease
found?
Geographically, heartworms are a potential threat in every
state, as well as in many other countries
around the world. All dogs, regardless of age, sex, or living
environment, are susceptible to heartworm infection. If
you plan to travel with your dog or cat to a different part
of the country, ask us about the risk of
heartworm disease in the area where you are going.
How can I tell if my pet has
heartworm disease?
Dogs:
If your dog has been recently or mildly infected with
heartworms, it may initially show no signs of disease.
However, as the disease progresses, your dog may cough,
become lethargic, lose its appetite or have difficulty
breathing. You may notice that your dog seems to tire rapidly
after only moderate exercise.
We will test your dog's blood for the
presence of heartworms. Further tests, such as chest x-rays,
and a blood profile, may be necessary to
confirm the diagnosis, to evaluate the severity of the
disease, and to determine the best treatment protocol for
your dog.
Cats:
Signs of possible heartworm infection in cats include
coughing, respiratory distress, and vomiting. In some cases,
a cat may die from heartworms.
The diagnosis of a heartworm-infected cat is more
difficult than with dogs. A series of different kinds of
tests may be needed to help determine the likelihood of
heartworm infection being the cause of your cat's illness
and, even then, the results may not be conclusive.
How can my pet be treated?
Dogs:
As with most medical problems, it is much better to prevent
heartworm than to treat it. However, if your dog does become
infected with heartworms there is a treatment
available. There is some risk involved in treating a dog for
heartworms. However, serious complications are much less
likely in dogs that are otherwise in good health and if the
disease is detected early.
The goal of heartworm treatment is to kill the worms
that are present in your dog's body. While
your dog is hospitalized and for a period of time afterwards,
it will require complete rest and may need additional
medications to help limit inflammatory reaction as the worms
die and are absorbed by the body.
Cats:
There is currently no effective and safe treatment for
heartworm infection in cats and testing is in-conclusive, we
suggestion a complete year round heart preventive program.
Can heartworm disease be
prevented?
Heartworm disease is almost 100% preventable in dogs and
cats. There are several heartworm preventives
available in a variety of formulations. We can
recommend the best method of prevention based upon your pet's
risk factors and lifestyle.
A blood test for existing heartworm infection is
recommended before beginning a prevention program to confirm
that your pet is not already infected with the disease. If
you are on heartworm preventative we recommend re-testing
your pet every 2 years to check your
pet's status and ensure that the appropriate medication is
being prescribed. |
