General Facts about Heartworms in Dogs
There are many parasites and diseases that may affect man’s best friend – dogs. One of the more common diseases is Heartworms. If you have the purest intentions to watch out for the welfare of your pet dog, you should educate yourself about this disease.
What are Heartworms?
Heartworms are caused by parasites called as Dirofilaria immitis. These parasites usually form their habitats particularly in the arteries of the lungs, ventricle of the heart, and the blood vessels near these organs. They are transferred to any susceptible dog through mosquito bites. The moment these Heartworm-transmitting mosquitoes bite the dogs, the infected larvae are introduced into the bloodstream. They stay there to incubate, and this is the start of the disease. However, the infected dog will still act normally given that the larvae have not grown into Heartworms yet.
Awareness
This disease has increased the number of cases in the US which could be due to the ignorance and negligence of most dog owners. Some may have believed that no mosquito could even pierce through the thick hairs of their pets. This is all the more reason why education among dog owners is a must. Dog owners who live in areas which are infested with many mosquitoes should be in tune to their dogs. Though this disease is seasonal, preparation will still play a big role in protecting the dogs.
These infected larvae or microfilariae thrive healthily in areas with over 80 degrees. The disease is not contagious through direct contact between an infected dog and a susceptible one. However, the infected dog may just become a breeding ground to hatch more larvae that can be transferred by mosquitoes to other dogs. It usually takes six to seven months before Heartworms can reach the heart of the infected animal. These worms usually grow into as long as 14 inches.
Detectable symptoms more often than not show when there are already adult Heartworms in the heart of the dog, which is usually a year after the first bite. These symptoms are coughs, sudden weakness, rapid weight loss, and lessened body endurance.
There are tests that can verify whether a dog has the disease or not. The dog should undergo blood tests. The first test is filtration to see if larvae are present in the dog’s blood. The second one is the occult test to detect adult Heartworms in the heart. These tests will ensure the absence or presence of Heartworms. X-rays are also used to see if there are worms in the dog’s lungs.