Can your dog get heart worms from other dogs?

No, dogs cannot directly transmit heartworms to each other. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, which serve as intermediate hosts for the parasite. When an infected mosquito bites a dog, it deposits microscopic heartworm larvae (microfilariae) into the dog's skin. These larvae develop into adult heartworms within the dog's heart and blood vessels, where they can cause severe damage. Dogs can only get heartworms by being bitten by an infected mosquito, and they cannot spread the infection to other dogs or humans through direct contact.