Heartworm is a serious infestation in dogs. Ferrets are also susceptible to heartworms. Cats can also get heartworms, but are usually more resistant to them, according to the American Heartworm Society. Heartworms are just that: parasitic worms that infest the heart. They can grow to be as long as 14 inches and can kill the host if left untreated. Mosquitoes are the main cause of the spread of heartworms.
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Identifying Heartworms
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Dogs get heartworms when they are bitten by a mosquito that has bitten another animal with heartworms. The mosquito has tiny organisms called microfilaria in it that it passes on to the dog. The microfilaria take about seven months to go through a larval stage before they infest the heart and surrounding arteries.
The first symptoms of heartworms is a cough, followed by fatigue or listlessness and congestion in the lungs. In severe cases, the dog could have difficulty breathing; he could faint or collapse; he could have an enlarged liver and he could have fluid buildup in his abdominal cavity.
Before treating a dog for heartworms, he needs to be tested for it. A veterinarian can do a blood test for heartworms. A vet could also use X-rays or ultrasound to see more serious cases of heartworm.
Initial Treatment
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To treat a dog for heartworms, he must be taken to a veterinarian. There are no known home remedies for this disease. A vet will give an infected dog an arsenic-based injection. Depending on the severity of the disease and health of the dog, they will give two injections over a 24-hour period or three injections over a month-long period. The injections are given in the muscles in the lower back and can be painful. These injections kill the adult worms in the heart. The vet will then prescribe medicine for the dog that will kill the microfiliaria to prevent more worms from growing to adults and re-infesting the heart.
Follow-up Treatment
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After the first injection, the dog will not be allowed to exercise until at least a month after the final injection. This is done to prevent serious complications. The remains of the dead worms will pass through the blood stream and too much activity can cause blood clots and other problems. A dog left alone during this time needs to be put in a small cage or a crate to keep him from being overactive on his own.
You will also need to watch the dog for signs of complications. Check his gums regularly. They should be pink. If they are red or white, the dog should be taken to the vet immediately. If the dog becomes lethargic with increased respiration, restlessness and coughing, he should be taken to the vet. Also, if there is vomiting or any bloody discharge combined with listlessness, increased heart rate and respiration and pale gums, the dog should be taken to a vet or clinic immediately.
After treatment is done, the dog should be tested for heartworms after four months, then again at six months if the first test was positive. Another positive at six months could mean that not all the adult worms were killed and that the dog will have to go through treatment once again.
Prevention
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This is obviously not a pleasant thing for a dog to endure; the best thing for any dog is to prevent it. It is a simple thing to get heartworm medicine from a vet that will kill any microfiliaria that gets into the dog from a mosquito bite. Obviously, dogs in areas with a lot of mosquitoes are more susceptible to be infected, but the American Heartworm Society recommends giving every dog year-round preventive for heartworms in all 50 states.
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