Ostler Pet Lover

Dogs can get infected with parasites like heartworms, without you knowing it. Symptoms might not be visible until they have traveled to and infested the heart.  This can take years and it can be too late for any medication to reverse the effects.  Active dogs are most likely to show the symptoms earlier than laid back and lazy dogs.

A blood test is needed to know if your dog is infected with the parasite.  An X-ray can also show if adult heartworm is present in the heart and lungs.  When results show that there is an infestation, a dog heartworm medication will be prescribed.  There are different medications available so you should ask your veterinarian which medicine will work best for your dog.

Short of eliminating mosquitoes, there’s no real way to protect your pets from heartworm other than to give them medication designed to kill the parasites. Dogs are most commonly infected by heartworms, but cats can also get heartworms. These worms usually live in the right side of the heart, in the lungs and in the pulmonary arteries. Outdoor pets are more likely to be affected than indoor pets.

By the time an animal shows signs of heartworms the disease is usually advanced. The severity the disease depends on the number of worms. Sometimes animals don’t show any symptoms, but when they do those symptoms may include; cough, loss of appetite, rapid heartbeat, convulsions, swelling of the abdomen, diarrhea, and vomiting.

To undergo treatment for heartworms an animal must be otherwise healthy. Heartworm medication can be dangerous and an animal should be evaluated by a veterinarian before being given the medication.