How Do You Know if a Dog Has Heartworms
Pumpkin Team
We are a team of writers, designers & product developers who all double equally passionate (ok, obsessive) nerds of the pet world.
Reviewed past Stacy Choczynski Johnson, DVM.
Heartworm disease is a serious condition that can have lifelong effects on the health of your pet – even when information technology's successfully treated. The good news is, heartworm disease is preventable, so y'all can rest easy if you're well informed and on top of your pup-parent game! Here's everything you lot need to know well-nigh heartworm disease in dogs, including symptoms, treatments, prevention, and more.
Starting time and foremost: What is heartworm affliction?
Heartworm disease is an illness caused by – you guessed it – the parasitical monsters known equally heartworms. Heartworms tin can exist up to 12 inches in length and take upward residence in your dog'due south heart and the vessels that move the blood from the heart to the lungs. Once at that place, they tin cause dangerous blockages and cut-off blood flow, leading to crimson blood cell lysis (destruction of ruddy blood cells with release of their contents); heart failure; and stress on the kidneys and liver.
The parasite's official scientific name isDirofilaria immitis, but information technology's normally called "heartworm" because of the impairment it can do to a pet'south cardiovascular health when it creates a home in the eye, lungs, and blood vessels.
What do heartworms look like?
Imagine the nastiest spaghetti squash you've e'er seen. Have the stringy function out, bleach it, and stretch each "spaghetti" to well-nigh a foot in length. Not something yous want to see in real life.
How exercise dogs get heartworms?
Heartworms are parasites, and unfortunately, dogs are natural hosts for them. This ways young heartworms tin grow, mature, and procreate all in your dog'south body. When a musquito bites a domestic dog (or other animal) infected with heartworms, it can choice up microscopic baby heartworms from the dog'due south blood.
Over the course of x to 14 days, these worms tin mature into what the American Heartworm Order dubs the "infective stage." If an infected mosquito bites some other domestic dog, it can transmit the infective larvae to that fauna (equally if mosquito bites weren't dreadful enough on their ain, correct?).
How long does information technology take for a dog with heartworms to show symptoms?
Some dogs live with heartworms for a long time with little to no exterior indicators of infection, particularly if they don't accept many heartworms. That said, heartworms have a lifespan of 5 to seven years, so unfortunately they accept plenty of fourth dimension to wreak havoc on your canis familiaris's system.
What are the first signs of heartworm infection in dogs?
Co-ordinate to veterinary and writer Dr. Margit Muller, many dogs don't actually prove any symptoms for the first few months of heartworm infection, though active dogs are most likely to suffer from symptoms the soonest. Dogs that practice begin to exhibit signs may but take a mild persistent cough, or bear witness exercise intolerance and desire to render dwelling early from a long run or hike.
With severe heartworm disease, dogs may show the post-obit symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Lethargy after moderate activeness
- Decreased ambition and/or weight loss
- Swelling of the abdomen due to fluid accumulation
- Syncope where a dog will "pass out"
In addition, your veterinary may be able to feel liver enlargement, or hear abnormal lung sounds and a heart murmur.
While you should consult your veterinarian if your pet has any of these symptoms – if you notice your dog has trouble breathing, dark urine, and/or pale gums – seek medical attention for them immediately. They may have adult caval syndrome, a potentially mortiferous cardiovascular effect that requires firsthand surgery for your fur infant's survival.
What are long-term symptoms of heartworm in dogs?
The longer heartworm disease goes undiagnosed and untreated, the more serious the symptoms tin go.
"Long-term symptoms occur when the adult worms crusade inflammation of the claret vessels and tin can block claret catamenia," Dr. Muller tells Pumpkin. "This leads to clots in the lungs and heart failure. Heartworm illness can also lead to liver or kidney failure."
How is heartworm illness diagnosed?
Considering heartworm disease shares symptoms with and so many other health conditions dogs may face – and considering your domestic dog may non exhibit any symptoms at all for months – special tests are necessary for diagnosis.
Your veterinary will simply have to take a small blood sample from your dog, the American Heartworm Society notes, in guild to cheque for heartworm proteins. If your domestic dog tests positive for heartworm proteins, your veterinarian may order more tests, including confirmatory claret tests, X-rays and a heart ultrasound called an echocardiogram, or opt to start treatment immediately.
Thankfully, some pet insurances like Pumpkin will cover these plush heartworm disease diagnostics and treatments and reimburse 90% of eligible costs.
How much does it cost to treat heartworm illness in dogs?
Similar virtually anything else, there are a number of variables when it comes to the price of heartworm handling for dogs, including the severity of the case, location, and the specific course of treatment given. That said, Dr. Muller advises, "The pure treatment might be around $500, merely a complete examination and treatment including 10-rays, blood tests, and proper follow-up testing might add together up to $ane,000 or more."
Can heartworm disease in dogs exist cured?
Yes, thereisa cure for heartworm disease in dogs, but know that information technology's a bit of a lengthy, circuitous, and expensive process. "There are injections bachelor to treat heartworm," Dr. Muller says, "but they have to be given repeatedly, usually two or three times." Of course, all dogs vary and information technology may depend on the severity of your pet's particular case.
Information technology'due south also important to note that dogs who have a lot of heartworms may not exhibit any more symptoms than dogs with fewer heartworms. However, the less severe the symptoms, the more than likely they'll respond positively to heartworm handling with minimal complications.
According to the American Heartworm Society, heartworm handling in dogs tin take several months and methods:
- You'll have to restrict and minimize your domestic dog's activity. Active dogs are more likely to have heart and lung damage from heartworms. You lot'll want to keep your pet in a crate or restricted to one room, and go on walks minimal and express to just relieving themselves. If you have a particularly energetic dog, your veterinarian may prescribe a sedative to go on them calm and restful.
- Your dog may require therapy to stabilize their status before handling, especially if they have severe heartworms or other serious medical issues that may pose complications.
- Your veterinarian will likely give your dog an injection of melarsomine dihydrochloride (brand names Immiticide and Diroban) to kill the worms. Some protocols include topical imidacloprid and moxidectin to rid your canis familiaris's bloodstream of microscopic heartworm larvae.
- Your veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics or steroids.
- In astringent cases, your veterinarian may perform surgery to physically remove heartworms from your dog's body.
- Your veterinarian volition continue testing for heartworm disease after handling, frequently starting at about six months after treatment concludes.
What happens if heartworm illness goes untreated?
"If untreated, the heartworm numbers tin can increase up to several hundred worms in the dog's torso," Dr. Muller tells Pumpkin. "Heartworm illness causes lasting impairment to the eye, lungs, and arteries, and tin can negatively bear on the dog's wellness and quality of life." If the organ harm from heartworms is astringent enough, information technology may be fatal.
Do I accept to limit my dog's activity and exercise if they're heartworm positive?
No one wants to see their dear pet bored and sad in a kennel or bars to a small space, but it's imperative that y'all proceed your dog at rest and equally inactive as possible until they've completed their heartworm treatment, per the American Heartworm Society.
When the treatment kills the worms in your dog's body, the decomposing worms can cause blockages in blood vessels near the lungs. If your canis familiaris'due south heart charge per unit increases due to practice or excitement, they'll exist at take a chance for a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal at worst, and at best, cause an increased chance of serious complications.
How can I keep my domestic dog entertained while limiting their activity during heartworm treatment?
Instead of playing fetch, roughhousing, or running with your dog, which can exist harmful to their recovery later heartworm treatment, try exercising their brain instead! The American Heartworm Society recommends investing in chewable toys (recall Nylabones and squeakers) to keep your pup occupied, and to have them try their paws at games similar puzzles and "casinos," where they have to piece of work to become a minor treat. This will continue your pup mentally stimulated, even if they can't move around much.
You tin too fill up Kong toys with their food to extend mealtimes, and keep them close to you lot while you work from home, read, watch Idiot box, or do annihilation else effectually the business firm, and then they don't experience alone.
Are some breeds more than or less decumbent to heartworm infections?
All dog breed types are susceptible to heartworms and the unsafe affliction they cause.
Does where I live bear on the likelihood of my dog getting infected?
Make no mistake: Heartworms can infect dogs anywhere in the world, though they tend to be more full-bodied in some areas than others, with geographical infection rates varying widely from year to year. As of 2020, the Southeast United States (North and South Carolina, Florida, Georgia), Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas; parts of Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Minnesota; and California are more than prone to heartworms and the mosquitoes that bear them.
Nevertheless, climate change, pets infected with heartworm relocating to other areas, migration of wild animals (like foxes, coyotes, and wolves) and stray dogs, and wind carrying mosquitoes long distances spreads the parasites all over. Long story short: Dogs everywhere are at take chances for heartworms, so don't take any chances – even if you live in a large city or colder climate!"
Urban areas with high density buildings can also serve equally warm microenvironments for mosquito breeding and some of the hardy mosquitos tin can evidently hibernate for up to 5 months," Dr. Stacy Choczynski Johnson tells Pumpkin. "This ways that us common cold weather pet owners demand to be vigilant almost heartworm besides!"
How can I prevent my canis familiaris from getting heartworm affliction?
Year-round preventative medication for heartworm is a must. You can also take steps within your environs to reduce the likelihood of mosquito bites by eliminating any standing water outdoors, using mosquito traps, and timing your dog's outdoor action to exclude sunset and dawn, when mosquitoes are most agile.
"I recommend reviewing your pet's historic period, breed, and health history to determine the all-time heartworm prevention for your pet," Dr. Choczynski Johson tells Pumpkin. "For dogs, we can advise a long lasting injection or an oral medication that sometimes includes flea and tick prevention. For dogs and cats, at that place is too a topical option."
When should I go a heartworm test for my dog?
If your dog exhibitsanyof the symptoms mentioned in a higher place, visit your veterinarian immediately for evaluation and heartworm testing. Got a healthy pooch? Great! Your dog should be tested for heartworm illness annually, even if they're on preventative medication and you take no reason to suspect infection. Your veterinarian will probable perform the test at your canis familiaris's annual wellness test.
"The American Heartworm Society is now recommending that as veterinarians we screen for heartworm using 2 tests – the traditional antigen test and also a microfilarial exam that volition screen for larvae as well," Dr. Choczynski Johnson notes. "Vets are starting to crack down on heartworm now that nosotros know it is in all l states."
Many veterinarians volition start puppies on heartworm prevention equally early as their first vet visit – and annual heartworm testing in dogs usually begins around vii months old. This is because it tin have upward six months to detect heartworms! While protecting your pup from heartworm illness is an investment – the good news is some pet insurance providers like Pumpkin offer optional preventive care coverage for primal parasite screening tests, including a yearly heartworm test for dogs.
Is canine heartworm disease contagious?
Here's some more proficient news for pet parents: heartworms aren't spread from dogs to other dogs, nor can you lot catch them from your pet (or vice versa). Dr. Muller explains, "No, heartworm isn't contagious, as the heartworms are not transmitted from canis familiaris to dog. The bite of an infected mosquito is the only style heartworms are transmitted."
What is the prognosis of heartworm illness in dogs?
According to Dr. Muller, the prognosis for heartworm in dogs depends on the stage and clinical manifestation of the disease. "Remember that the heartworm can stay alive upwardly to six years in the domestic dog," she states. "In early on stages without lung and eye failure, 98 per centum of dogs will be cleared of heartworm with an intensive iii-dose protocol. But the very best prognosis comes from regular prevention year-round."
Heartworm disease is a complicated issue that requires immediate medical attention and TLC for your infected dog. Nevertheless, equally the FDA notes – and both Dr. Muller and Dr. Choczynski Johnson concur – the absolute best treatment is simply acceptable heartworm prevention. Your dog (and your wallet) will thank you for keeping them healthy, prophylactic, and free of creepy-crawlies.
Download this helpful Heartworm Affliction Guide for Dogs
Source: https://www.pumpkin.care/blog/heartworm-in-dogs/
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