Canine Heartworm Disease

Heartworm Disease
• Caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis
• A serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure,
other organ damage leads to death in pets, mainly dogs, cats
• Transmission through the bite of a mosquito
• Disease has been reported 50 states
Signs of heartworm
• Mild persistent cough
• Reluctance to exercise
• Fatigue after moderate activity
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and
the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen
HARD
• In Chronic cases signs include vomiting , difficult breathing, lethargy ,
lose weight
• Sometimes heartworm enter into the blood , goes into pulmonary
arteries, often leads to the feline asthma, allergic bronchitis,
developing HARD (heartworm associate respiratory disease)
Life cycle of heartworm disease
Tests
• How to detect heartworm ?
a. Antigen test or microfilariae
b. X-rays
c. Ultrasound images
All these tests use to detect heartworm after the five or seven month
of infection
Images of heartworm
Treatment of Heartworm
Herbal treatments of heartworm disease
• Garlic: helps to repel parasites
• Black seed : antiparasitic tonic herb
• Grape fruite seed: foir bacterial, viral, fungal infections
• Licorise: immune stimulant
• Hawthorn : strengthen heart