Heartworm is a serious health problem in dogs. Infected mosquitoes carry larvae to dogs and other animals they feed on. If your dog is not on heartworm preventive medication and must be treated, recovery is long and painful.
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Significance
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Heartworm disease is often fatal as heartworms grow within the heart, lungs and blood vessels. The treatment of choice is Immiticide (Melarsomine dihydrochloride) which is an organic arsenic compound.
Time Frame
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Immiticide is given intramuscularly as a series of shots in the deep muscles of the lumbar area; the arsenic is painful and may sting the dog if performed incorrectly or if no local anesthesia is used. The dog receives one shot, waits a month and then two shots in a 24 hour succession; you must limit your dog's exercise a month before the shots, during the month between the first and successive shots and at least two months after the treatment.
Effects
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Immiticide kills the heartworms in the dog's body; not all the heartworm is cleaned up by white blood cells and many dead and dying worms break off and obstruct the pulmonary arteries.
Considerations
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Dogs are kept at a low activity level to avoid causing stress to the cardiovascular system that will cause more worms to travel into the arteries and possibly lead to clots that may cause heart attacks or strokes. Many dogs are put on anti-inflammatories and antibiotics to reduce swelling and possible bacterial infections.
Prevention/Solution
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Putting your dog on year-round heartworm preventive medication is the only way to minimize the risk of heartworm disease.
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