Signs of Heartworm in Puppies

Whether your dog lives inside or outside of your home, he is at risk of developing a heartworm infection. The fact is heartworm is present in every state and easily spread by mosquitos. Unfortunately, detecting heartworm in young puppies is difficult because in most cases it takes 6 months from infection before the onset of symptoms. However, older puppies may display symptoms, and if you can detect their heartworm symptoms, you may be able to have them treated or spare them suffering.

  1. Cough

    • When a heartworm infection progresses, it spreads to a dog's lungs. When the infection reaches the lungs, your dog may develop a cough. The cough may be mild to persistent in nature.

    Lethargy

    • Most dogs who have heartworm become lethargic as the infection progresses. This may include an increase in the time your puppy spends sleeping, a lack of interest in normal activities or a little less peppy and a bit slower. In fact, when the infection first starts to spread, your puppy may only show signs of fatigue after normal exercise or activity. Look for fatigue after exercise that would normal not cause it.

    Loss of Appetite

    • Dogs often lose their appetite when they are sick. As heartworm infection spreads, your dog's appetite may either gradually or suddenly decrease. Most dogs are routine in regards to the amount of food they eat. Puppies typically have a strong appetite because they burn a lot of energy, and they are growing. If you pay attention to your dog's eating habits, it becomes easy to detect a decrease in appetite.

    Breathing Difficulty

    • When heart worm in puppies and dogs becomes widespread, it usually causes breathing problems. Your puppy may seem to lose his breath easily or may display constant labored breathing.

    Vomiting

    • Dogs and puppies that have heartworm may have digestive problems. This often results in frequent boats of vomiting.

    Weight Loss

    • Dogs that have a heartworm infection will usually begin to lose weight as the infection progresses. This should be particularly noticeable in puppies because they should be gaining weight regularly as they grow. If your puppy isn't thriving and suddenly starts losing weight, he may have heartworm.