The American Heartworm Society refers to dogs as the "definitive host" of heartworm disease. The disease costs a lot less to prevent than it does to cure. The disease could be eradicated in the U.S. if everyone participated in heartworm prevention programs for their pets, according to veterinarians Dr. Race Foster and Dr. Marty Smith of Peteducation.com.
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Rates of Infection
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There is a 100 percent infection rate once a dog is exposed to the heartworm virus, according to doctors Foster and Smith. Mosquitoes carrying heartworm are found in all 50 U.S. states. Humans cannot contract heartworm disease from their pets because the disease can only be transmitted by mosquitoes. Humans can get heartworm diesase from mosquitoes, but it is extremely rare, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency that regulates heartworm treatment.
Vulnerable Dogs
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About 55 percent of dogs in the U.S. are protected against heartworm. This leaves 27 million dogs vulnerable, according to the American Heartworm Association. Even though your dog may be an "inside dog", he is still vulnerable because mosquitoes can come in through an open door or window or infect the dog when outside exercising. There are a variety of economical ways to protect your dog: daily or monthly tablets, chewables, topicals and an injectable administered every 6 months.
Symptoms
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There are usually no signs of heartworm infection during the early stages of the disease. The earliest sign that something is wrong is often the development of a cough. As the disease reaches further stages, the dog becomes easily tired after activity and eventually shows signs of heart failure, according to the FDA. Once the dog begins to show symptoms, the disease has progressed past the "mild" stage.
Heartworm Medicines
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The most effective medication to treat a heartworm infection contains arsenic and must be administered via injection by a veterinarian, according to the Dog Heartworm Organization. Arsenic can be toxic and treatment must be monitored closely. Side effects are serious and can cause blood clots in the dog's lungs. Dogs are routinely hospitalized for this procedure so that the veterinarian can monitor his health during treatment. Dogs with mild symptoms have the best chances of success during treatment. Dogs with more advanced symptoms generally have complications and higher mortality rates, according to the Heartworm Society.
Heartworm Prevention
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Preventative medicine will keep your dog heartworm-free and protect against other types of intestinal worms. Adult heartworms develop six months after a dog is infected. The FDA recommends that dogs who are older than six or seven months old should be tested before heartworm prevention begins. Giving a dog heartworm prevention medicine when he already has an adult heartworm infection can endanger the dog's life. Although medicine can help your dog overcome heartworm disease, treatment requires x-rays, multiple visits to the veterinarian, bloodwork, and injections, according to the FDA.
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