Canine-Heartworms

Questions and Answers: Canine Heartworms

Q: What are heartworms?

They are long worms, sometimes up to 12 inches long, that lodge in a dog’s heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels. They live and reproduce in the dog’s heart. When left untreated, they will eventually be fatal to the pet.

Q: How do dogs get heartworms?

The only way to become infected with heartworms is to be bitten

by an infected mosquito. The population of larvae infected mosquitoes

in the United States expands to 50 different states.

Q: Do the Desert Regions have heartworms, too?

People used to believe that certain regions of the United States such as Arizona, Oregon, and parts of California were immune from having heartworms simply because they have so few mosquitoes. There is very little moisture for a mosquito population to thrive; however, heartworms have been confirmed in all of these regions.

Q: What are the symptoms of heartworms?

Usually there are no symptoms of heartworm disease. At least in the early stages of the disease there are no symptoms. End stage heartworms can have multiple signs including coughing, exercise intolerance, weakness, abdominal distension, and respiratory difficulty. Some pets have been known to pass out from lack of oxygen to the brain.

Q: How can I prevent heartworms in my dog?

Heartworm prevention is easy to do and extremely cost effective. Most preventions are dosed monthly. Many are made into flavored chewable treats that dogs just love. There are many choices for prevention including Heartgard, Interceptor, Sentinel, Iverhart, Revolution, and more. You should check with your veterinarian about which prevention is recommended. The costs of most preventions are reasonable and many can be found on-line for those of looking to save on expenses.

Q: If my dog has heartworms, what is the treatment?

Unfortunately, the treatment for heartworms is not as inexpensive as the prevention would have been. Treatment usually includes lab work, thoracic radiographs, hospitalization, and 2 or 3 injections of an arsenic-based product called Immiticide. The total costs can range from $700.00 to $1000.00 for this treatment.

Q: Why does my dog have to stay confined after heartworm treatment?

After a pet is treated with Immiticide to kill the adult heartworms, these worms release from the heart and follow the blood flow. This means they go through to the pulmonary blood vessels and into the lungs. Dog’s are at risk for pulmonary blood clots and respiratory distress. It is extremely important not to let your pet become too active, pant excessively, or get out of breath.

Q: If my dog has heartworms, can I just give him the monthly preventative?

Yes. Many people cannot afford to pursue heartworm treatment and this is the next best option. If you keep your pet on a heartworm prevention (such as Heartgard), then most likely all the adult heartworms will die off gradually in your pet’s heart over time. It usually takes about 2 years. Remember that during this time the worms that are in the heart are causing some ongoing damage to your pet.

Q: Should I adopt a dog with heartworms?

Absolutely! Most of our stray and shelter population is unfortunately inflicted with heartworms. All of these animals need homes and make wonderful pets. Just be prepared to make your decision about treatment once you obtain your new pet.

Q: Can I get heartworms from my dog?

No. There have been a few very rare cases of human reported heartworms (mostly in people with compromised immune systems). They did not, however, get the worms from their pet. The only way to contract heartworms is from a larvae infected mosquito.

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