| Heartworms are parasites that can infect dogs. The | | | | simple test a preventative is prescribed. There are the |
| parasites enter the dogs' bodies through a mosquito's | | | | monthly ones of ProHeart (moxidectin), Interceptor |
| bite. A dog getting heartworms is a serious matter. | | | | (milbmycin), and Heartguard (ivermectin) or you have |
| When left untreated your dog could die. Let's look a bit | | | | the daily diethylcarbamazine. You can also topically |
| closer and what a heartworm is along with prevention | | | | apply selamectin as in the new Revolution. Several of |
| and treatment for it. | | | | these will kill other worms and the Revolution is also a |
| A mosquito carrying the larvae of the heartworm bites | | | | preventative for ticks, fleas, and mites. These |
| your dog and transmits the larvae into your dog's | | | | preventive are usually recommended for year round. |
| bloodstream. Then it goes through an incubation | | | | Treatment |
| process for a few days. This is the start of your dog | | | | When a dog is found to have heartworms the health |
| having heartworms. These heartworms can go on to | | | | conditions caused by these are first addressed. This is |
| adversely affect your dog's heart. They can actually | | | | to make the dog stronger to handle the side effects |
| multiple their numbers while in the heart chamber. This | | | | of the treatment. If the disease is not too serious, |
| can bring on heart failure. | | | | treatment can be given to get rid of the heartworms. |
| This parasite goes through various life stages to | | | | An arsenic compound is given to your dog to kill the |
| become an adult. The mosquito only carries the larvae | | | | adult heartworms. Luckily today there is a new drug |
| of the heartworm. It has picked it up by biting another | | | | with fewer side effects than the one that used to be |
| infected animal and then bites your dog depositing the | | | | used for this purpose. |
| larvae in him to start the disease all over again. In the | | | | There are two doses a day given 2 days in a row. |
| adult stage these parasites can grow as long as 12 | | | | Then the dog needs to be inactive for a few weeks. |
| inches and can live in the heart of your dog for many | | | | This gives your dog's body a chance to absorb any of |
| years if nothing is done. | | | | the dead heartworms. If your dog is active during this |
| The heartworms reproduce at an alarming rate | | | | time, the deceased heartworms could move to the |
| because a female can lay thousands of eggs in one | | | | dog's lungs and cause it to die. |
| day. The larvae grow and in turn multiple in the right | | | | About a month later, more treatments will be given on |
| ventricle of the heart and into the lungs. Your dog will | | | | a daily basis for a week to get rid of the larvae. Then |
| not show signs of the infection for about a year. This | | | | the veterinarian will test your dog again to see if the |
| shows up as a minor cough at first so many times you | | | | heartworm larvae are still there. The dosage of |
| can overlook it. | | | | medicine can be raised if needed. Then each year |
| Prevention | | | | your dog will be tested again. Prevention of |
| It is easy to prevent heartworms though. Once your | | | | heartworms is much better for the dog than treatment. |
| dog is found not to have the heartworms through a | | | | |