How to Tell if Your Dog Has Heartworms

Heartworm disease is a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure,
other organ damage, and sometimes death in pets, mainly dogs, while cats are also
affected sometimes. It is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis, that
spreads through mosquito bite. These microscopic larvae develop under the skin, then
migrate to the blood vessels of the heart and lungs of the infected animal where they
rapidly grow, becoming adults that are 5-12 inches in length.
Life cycle of heartworms

The worms mature into adults, mate, and produce offspring while living inside a dog.
When another mosquito bites the infected dog, the microscopic worms enter the
mosquito without affecting it. Thus mosquitoes act as carriers of this infection. This
mosquito transmits it to another healthy dog by a bite. Inside a dog, a heartworm’s life
span is 5 to 7 years. Heartworm disease is only spread through the bite of a mosquito
and it doesn't spread directly (it is not contagious) from one dog to another.

The main danger of Heartworm disease lies in the fact that it goes unnoticed until it has
spread considerably to produce symptoms. Treatment is available, but the lasting
damage done by the parasite to the lungs, heart and arteries can affect the dog’s health
and quality of life, even after removal of the parasite from the dog's body.

Heartworm disease is not contagious, so it doesn’t transmit from one dog to another.

Symptoms :
Symptoms of a heartworm disease may include

1. Mild Cough that persists

A persistent, dry cough is a common sign seen in dogs with heartworm disease. The
cough caused by heartworm disease can be one of the first signs you notice in an
otherwise healthy-appearing dog.

2. Lethargy

Lethargy and reluctance to exercise are also common signs described in dogs with
heartworm disease. If your pet loses interest in going for walks or is fatigued after
activity, it may be a sign of heartworm disease.

3. Weight Loss

Some dogs lose weight owing to decreased appetite.

4. Swollen Belly or Bulging ribs

As heartworm disease progresses, it can lead to heart failure. You may notice that your
dog's belly appears swollen from fluid in the abdomen.
5. Difficulty Breathing

In the most advanced cases, dogs can develop more severe respiratory issues like rapid
breathing in addition to coughing.

Treatment protocol
1. Melarsomine dihydrochloride (available under the trade names Immiticide and
Diroban) is an arsenic-containing drug that is FDA-approved to kill adult heartworms in
dogs. It's given by deep injection into the back of the dog.

2. Advantage Multi for Dogs (imidacloprid and moxidectin), is FDA-approved topical

solution applied to the dog’s skin, to get rid of microworms in the dog’s bloodstream.

Treatment of Heartworm disease can cause severe toxicity to the dog's body leading to
serious complications such as blood lots in the dog’s lungs.

Moreover, the treatment is expensive because it requires multiple visits to the

veterinarian, blood tests, x-rays, hospitalization, and a series of injections.

Prevention is the best cure !

There are many FDA-approved products available now in the market, and can be
obtained after a formal prescription from a veterinarian. Most medicines are
administered monthly, either as a lotion applied on the skin or as a tablet to be given
orally. Both chewable and non-chewable oral tablets are available.

There is one product that is injected under the skin every 6 or 12 months by a
veterinarian only, for prevention of further infection. Some heartworm preventive
regimes also contain ingredients that are effective against other intestinal worms (such
as roundworms and hookworms) and parasites (such as fleas, ticks, and ear mites).

Take home message :

● Maintaining good hygiene for your adorable pet is the first and very important
step for prevention of this Fatal disease. Making proper arrangements for
preventing mosquito infiltration into the dog’s surroundings is one of the key
measures.
● One can also ensure regular mosquito fogging to keep your dog as well as your
family safe and healthy.
● Keen observation for noticing any signs of abnormal fatigue, avoidance of activity
recurrent coughing or sneezing by the dog is required for early diagnosis and
treatment
● Prevention regimes shielding the infection around the year are the best !
● Talk to your dog’s veterinarian to decide which preventive course is best for your
dog.