Most
definitely! Exposure to Canine Heartworms is widespread, and countless
numbers are infected annually. The condition often progresses to death.
Prevalence
of Canine Heartworm Infection
Heartworm
infection has been found in dogs in all 50 states, and is considered
at least regionally endemic in each of the states except Alaska.
Any dog regardless of age, sex, or habitat is susceptible to
heartworm infection.
How is
it contracted and spread?
The disease
is spread from host to host by mosquitoes carrying heartworm
larvae. The infective larvae usually come from dogs within the
population that have canine heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitis).
1. Microscopic
immature heartworms are transmitted to your dog through the
bite of infected mosquitos. 2. These infective larvae migrate through tissues
and eventually reach the heart, where they mature to adult heartworms. 3. The mature worms produce more immature microfilaria,
which circulate in the bloodstream. Then: 4. Other mosquitos pick up the microfilaria when they
bite, and transmit them to other dogs.
How dangerous
is it?
The adult
worms disrupt the normal blood flow through the heart and vessels
of the lungs, causing signs similar to congestive heart disease.
All cases are debilitating, and many will result in death if
untreated.
Circulating
microfilaria block small capillaries and cause damage at the
microscopic level to major organs like the kidneys, liver and
lungs.
Treatment
usually reverses the damage, though in severe cases recuperative
time is long.
Is Canine
Heartworm Disease preventable?
Yes, prevention is easy
with one of the following methods:
Oral preventatives
Oral preventatives
are designed to be used monthly. Be sure to use products
formulated specifically for dogs. Appropriate products include
Heartgard, Interceptor, and Sentinel.
Injectable prevention
Proheart is a newer
product designed to be injected at six month intervals by
your veterinarian As with any treatment, especially any
that involves medication injected systemically, certain
risks may occur to individual animals based on age, stress
levels or other factors.
Your
veterinarian is the best informed source of which form of
prevention is better suited to your individual pet.
How
is canine heartworm infection diagnosed?
Clinical signs are often
nonspecific and include:
Coughing
Breathing difficulty
(dyspnea)
Sluggishness
Exercise intolerance
Loss of weight or condition
There are diagnostic tests
which are usually capable of pinpointing canine heartworm infection.
Diagnostic aids include:
Blood tests for occult
heartworm antigen
Blood tests for circulating
microfilaria
Chest x-rays
Clinical signs
Canine
heartworm disease resembles other cardiovascular diseases and
can be misdiagnosed.
