Heartworms are common parasites that affect dogs. In fact this disease is affecting parts of the United States in higher numbers than ever before. if this disease is left undetected and untreated it will be fatal to your dog. The good news is that you can easy screen for heartworms and prevent them and it’s not very expensive. This disease is caused by a worm that migrates up to the heart and drills holes through the chambers of the dogs heart. The worm is introduced to your dog by an infected mosquito that bites your dog and injects the infant form of the heartworm. Because of the way your dog gets this disease, it affects some parts of the country in higher numbers where mosquito are a big problem. Here are the symptoms of heartworms in dogs:
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- Soft cough and decrease in energy. Dogs will usually tire quickly after physical activities (early stages)[/custom_list]
Later stages of heartworm symptoms include:[custom_list style=”list-1″]
- Weight loss and poor appetite
- Congestive heart failure
- Kidney Failure
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Because these signs and symptoms are common for other problems you need to have a vet check them before you start any type of treatment. An accurate test can be performed by a simple blood test called the heartwormantigen test. The vet will also do a urine test and chest x-rays to find what the overall health and stage the disease has progressed. Depending on whats going on with your dog and it’s overall heath, will determine what steps the vet will take to get rid of the heartworms. Your dog will be prescribed a heartworm medicine that will get rid of the worms.
Be aware however that any damage the worms have cause can’t be cured. That is why it is important to prevent heartworms before they harm your dog. This treatment is serious and your dog will have to stay with the vet for several days in most cases. For the health of your dog you should talk to a vet and get your dog on a prevention program before it gets heartworms.
