Signs of Heart Worms in Canines

Heart worms are a common affliction in dogs that can be easily avoided by giving the dog heart worm medication. If a dog does get heart worms, it is very difficult and expensive to treat it and the chance of survival is fifty-fifty at best. Heart worms are passed to a dog through mosquito bites and once in the blood stream they work their way to the animal's heart and lungs where they grow and eventually clog the major arteries and choke off the blood supply.

  1. Less Active

    • The first sign that an owner will notice when their dog has heart worms is that they become less active, refusing to engage in physical activity. All dogs have a different activity level so if you notice a drop in your dog's activity level, be sure to have the dog checked by a veterinarian.

    Coughing

    • Coughing can be a symptom of many things, but if the dog has heart worms, the cough will be soft and dry. The parasites live in the lungs as well as the heart, and the owner may want to see if the dog is coughing up pieces of worm. The worms do not always come up with the coughing but sometimes they will. At any rate, a persistent cough of any kind is a reason for a visit to the veterinarian.

    Jaundice

    • Jaundice is a symptom of an advanced case of heart worm infection because this means that the worms have run out of space in the heart and lungs and have moved to the liver. The only treatment when the infection gets to this point is expensive surgery, and the chance of survival is low.

    Weight Loss and No Appetite

    • Weight loss and no appetite is a symptom of several different diseases. This is also a classic sign of heart worms, and the dog should go to the veterinarian immediately.

    Difficulty Breathing

    • Difficulty breathing is another classic sign of heart worms. The worms fill up the lungs and the airways leading to the lungs. If your dog is having a hard time breathing, take it to the veterinarian immediately.