Heartworms In Dogs - What They Are And How To Stop Them

By: Ray Ebersole

It is critically important for a dog owner to be conscious of the dangers of the bloodsucking heartworm. As their name suggests, Heartworms exist within a dogs heart where they can carry out a lot of harm. Responsible dog owners have to be alert to the danger of heart worm infestations and take proper preventative actions. If you believe your dog has become infected you need to seek immediate medical treatment from your veterinarian.

Heartworms or "Dirofilaria Immitis" in Latin, by and large exist in the right ventricle of the heart where they are able to float freely around the hearts blood vessels. The Heartworm parasite is passed along by mosquitoes through their saliva. The saliva is able to transmit the parasite to your dog by means of a single bite. So even if your dog does not come into contact with other dogs it is at risk. It is a little known fact that cats are also susceptible to the parasite.

There are generally four stages to an infestation by Heartworms. Your vet would be able to prescribe available treatments based on what phase infestation your dog has.

In the first or early stage infection your dog is unlikely to show any symptoms. Even with a blood examination it is unlikely that the parasite will show its repulsive head. It is a great deal easier and better for you and your dog to thwart the heartworm infestation in first place. If you are able to keep your dog clean it will be a great deal easier on you and him or her, as after they get to 6 to 7 months in age, treatments may have an undesirable result.

In the second phase of infestation the heartworms will begin to mature and manage their way to the heart muscle. At this point the worm infestation will start to be able to be picked up on x-ray. At this stage the worms will start to do their dirty work and you may perhaps notice your dog will become short of breath or begin to develop a wheeze. This is due to damage being done to the blood vessels around your dogs heart and lungs. The greater the number of worms the more rapidly the damage will accumulate. It is unlikely that your dog will only be infected with one worm. The worms have a propensity to proliferate rather rapidly.

In the third stage of infestation you may possibly observe your dog begin to quickly lose weight. Again, the heavier the infestation the more rapidly blood flow will be choked off. Testing at this point could reveal kidney and liver damage. You may possibly witness fainting spells in your dog at this point. Other|Additional|Further} symptoms would be shortness of breath, sluggish behavior and in severe cases a potential heart attack.

As if a stage three infestation is not bad enough the fourth stage is not anywhere you want this kind of infestation to progress to. In the fourth and most serious stage your dog may encounter what is identified as Vena Cava Syndrome. At this point your dog can be in a near state of shock and may be close to death. The only alternative at this stage is a surgical procedure to eradicate the worms. Even with this radical measure success is not guaranteed.

In summary, the best thing you can do for your dog is to prevent Heartworms from even having a chance at your dog. If you get them on a high-quality routine early on, it is likely that you may in no way have to deal with this terrible problem.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

For more information on heartworms and general dog health questions, from fleas to hip dysplasia, visit our blog.

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