Of all foes, none are as dangerous as the ones we can’t see. This holds true in the case of dogs suffering from heartworm disease. Unlike fleas, you will not be able to see heartworms on your furry friend. However, this does not make their impact any less deadly.

In fact, the American Heartworm Society states that most infected animals do not show any apparent symptoms unless the problem has become life-threatening. In some cases, the pet may develop sudden heart blockages or cardiovascular collapse.

Worms in your doggo’s heart can wreak havoc, so this article will discuss all you need to know about them and pet safety.

How Do Heartworms Make It to a Pet’s Heart?

The notorious parasitic heartworm called Dirofilaria immitis does not travel or exist in your pet’s heart in isolation. It requires a carrier, a role often fulfilled by a mosquito.

Heartworm is most common among dogs and cats. Hence, these infected animals are known as the definitive host. The intermediate host or mosquito is needed for the heartworm’s larvae to become infective.

When an infected mosquito bites a dog, the infective larvae are transmitted to the dog’s bloodstream. These larvae take anywhere from six to seven months in order to turn into adult heartworms. The adults then mate, and the female worms produce more offspring to complete the lifecycle.

The disease is called heartworm disease because the foot-long adult worms prefer to reside in the infected pet’s heart. But they may also be found in blood vessels and lungs. Once inside the pet’s bloodstream, the adult worms can live up to six or seven years. They often resemble cooked spaghetti but are white in color.

The total number of worms found inside the dog is termed the worm burden. This number may range from a basic 15 to a whopping 250.

Is Your Pet at Risk of Developing This Disease?

In order to answer that, several factors must be considered. A dog may appear to be healthy on the outside while having numerous heartworms thriving in their insides. By the time symptoms appear, it may be too late.

Even if your local area has little risk of heartworms, your pet may travel to a place where these parasites are more common. Heartworm disease is not contagious, but strays are often infected by heartworm-infected mosquitoes blown great distances by the wind.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), heartworm disease is most commonly found in animals on the Gulf coasts and areas surrounding the Mississippi River. However, cases have been reported in all 50 states. On average, it is recommended that dogs aged seven months or older must be tested for heartworm disease just to be on the safe side. This is also the age to begin heartworm prevention for pets.

How Serious is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is often termed a deadly and progressive condition. It is the fact that early detection is often difficult that makes it so dangerous for your pet. The severity of the condition will also depend upon the worm’s burden, the duration of infection, as well as how the pet’s body is reacting to the worms.

Also, dogs that are not very active by nature may not show symptoms early on. Vets classify this condition into four categories or classes –

• Class 1 – No symptoms appear. In some cases, mild symptoms like occasional coughing may be present.
• Class 2 – Symptoms such as coughing and easy fatigue after moderate activity begin to appear.
• Class 3 – Symptoms become more severe, including prolonged tiredness, persistent coughing, and a sickly countenance. At this stage, heartworm disease will show itself on chest X-rays.
• Class 4 – This class is also known as the caval syndrome. Heart blockage at this stage is so severe that blood flow is disrupted. The only option at this stage is surgical worm removal. However, the surgery is very risky, and the prognosis is poor.

It is important to remember that caval syndrome is rare. But neglected heartworms almost always damage the host’s heart, kidneys, and lungs.

Prevention: The Only Best Defense

Pet owners, alarmed by the severity of heartworm disease, often ask whether there’s a cure. In the case a dog is diagnosed with this condition, there are only two options – oral medication or surgery.

The oral drugs, sold under the names of Diroban and Immiticide, are FDA-approved and administered through a deep injection in the animal’s back muscles. The only problem is that this drug contains arsenic and, in itself, is a risky choice. This is mainly because there’s no way to know beforehand how the pet’s body will react to the drug.

The only best way to defend your furry friend against heartworm disease is through regular tests and prevention measures. It’s tackling the heartworm larvae before they turn into adults. These measures can come packaged in forms your pet naturally loves. For instance, Heartgard chewables for dogs are raw beef chewable that also act as 30-day preventatives.

You can start heartworm disease prevention after your dog completes six months. Just one chewable every 30 days should be enough to protect your dog. But do remember that most preventatives are designed to prevent larvae from turning into adult worms. If otherwise, your doggo must first be treated, and only then can you begin with prevention measures.

The Key Takeaways

Even if you heard of heartworm disease for the first time, be a wise pet owner and take preventative measures while there is still time. Using heartworm chewable is one way of preventing this condition.

Other than that, you must provide your dog with highly nutritious food. Check for nutritional listings on the back of the food packages and ensure it contains whole food ingredients. Your doggo also needs a balanced diet, with equal parts vegetables and equal parts meat.

Finally, take your pet for regular check-ups at least once every year. This will ensure that any abnormalities are detected early.