Dogs undergoing treatment for heartworms need to minimize excitement, exercise and distress. When treatment is started and the worms die, they will decompose and shed. Coughing is a warning sign that the dead worms in the arteries and capillaries of the lungs have obstructed the blood flow through the pulmonary arteries.
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The Facts
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Heartworm treatment varies by animal and the severity of the infestation. Symptoms of a heartworm infection include coughing, lethargy and difficulty breathing. These symptoms emerge once the heartworms have matured into adults, an advanced stage of infection.
Significance
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A persistent cough that will not go away is a warning sign of a heartworm infection. Your pet also may continue coughing during and after treatment, because the parasites decompose and shed in your animal's body.
A cough also is an indication of a serious problem during treatment. The American Heartworm Society says that when dead worms become numerous, a pervasive obstruction of the arteries can occur. Coughing along with a fever are common signs of this occurrence.
Treatment
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Three typical treatment options exist for heartworm infestation. The right treatment depends on the stage of your pet's infection. The first treatment option, the fast kill, involves giving the animal two doses of Immiticide, 24 hours apart, in the lower back.
The second treatment option, the slow kill, takes a more gentle approach. Ivermectin (Heartgard) is given monthly to your pet, killing the worms off slowly over a period of about two years.
And the third option, reserved for advanced cases of infection, involves surgically removing the parasites.
Exercise
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A history of coughing along with the inability to exercise suggest your pet has a heartworm infection. Not only will your pet show difficulty exercising and exerting energy once infected, you must not allow exercise during treatment. When heartworm treatment is successful, some degree of pulmonary thromboembolism will occur (the obstruction of blood flow through the pulmonary arteries from dead worms). This will cause labored breathing and coughing. Exercise will worsen these symptoms and in extreme cases, cause sudden death.
Warning
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According to DogAware.com, some coughing and gagging is normal with the treatment of heartworms. If the coughing becomes heavy and uncontrollable, or if your pet shows signs of distressed breathing, get it to a veterinary clinic immediately.
Prevention/Solution
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According to the American Heartworm Society, heartworm is found in all 50 states and continually spreads. Heartworm treatment is costly and unpredictable, so the most effective action is prevention. You can prevent heartworm with monthly medications administered in a timely manner. The American Heartworm Association recommends year-round prevention, along with yearly testing for infection.
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