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How important is heartworm treatment for my pug??
How do dogs get exposed to heartworms??
The Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. This disease is passed from mosquitos to cats and dogs. Dirofilaria immitis is not directly transmitted from one cat or dog to another. Dirofilaria immitis is passed when a mosquito bites a dog or cat that is infected with the disease and parasites called microfilariae enter the mosquito. The microfilariae then mature in the mosquito and are then passed to a dog or cat when the infected mosquito bites your pet. When this disease is transmitted to a pet in this manner, the parasite can mature into worms and work its way into the cat or dog’s heart. When the larvae get into a dog’s heart and lungs, the process takes about six months. An adult heartworm can grow to be about 12 inches long.The worms can eventually grow so large that they can block blood flow to the heart and lungs, causing heart failure and death.
Dogs get heart worms from various sources in his environment. Even if your pug is not outside often, he/she could still get worms from something on your shoes or from a visiting mosquito.
Will mosquito repellent stop heart worm disease??
No. It will minimize the risk of your pug getting bit by an infected mosquito, but it will not stop heart worm. Only heartworm medication will stop an infection.
How severe is heartworm??
The severity of heartworm disease is directly dependent on the number of worms that are in the body of the dog, how long they have been there, and how the dog responds to the parasite.
Is heartworm found in my state?
Dirofilaria immitis is mainly found in geographic areas with tropical and subtropical climates. It is mainly found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and the Ohio and Mississippi river basins. Although Dirofilaria immitis is mostly found in these regions, it is not limited to these areas- it is found worldwide. Dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm disease in all 50 states.
How do I prevent heartworm in my pug??
Heartworm disease is preventable with a heart worm prophylaxis (a preventative medication) from your vet. For dogs who do get heartworm, the prognosis is good for mild to moderate cases with the appropriate treatment. Dogs with severe cases of heartworm may suffer from short or long-term complications due to the disease and the treatment. Heartworm preventatives are not 100 percent effective, particularly if they are not used per label instructions or doses are missed. Therefore, screening for heartworm is recommended so the disease can be caught in the early stages. Treating heartworms is expensive and there is a risk to the dog. Prevention is always a better option. If a dog or cat contracts heartworm and is not treated for it, it is usually fatal.
What are the symptoms of Heartworm disease??
- coughing
- exercise intolerance
- poor body condition
- labored breathing
- a pot-bellied appearance
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Heart failure
- Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
The symptoms of Heartworm are divided into classes:
Class I heartworm disease may not show any visible signs, or minimal signs like a mild cough. Your dog will most likely appear happy and healthy. Your dog’s heartworm test may even come out negative in this stage.
Class II heartworm disease include coughing and an intolerance to moderate exercise. Your dog’s heartworm test will be positive in this stage.
Class III heartworm disease will often show a loss of body condition, extreme exercise intolerance, labored breathing and a pot-bellied appearance. Your dog may have trouble breathing in this stage of heartworms and may even cough up blood.
Class IV heartworm disease is a condition called naval syndrome, which is caused by so many worms that they block the flow of blood in the heart.
DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT
Your veterinarian will run a heart worm test before they start your dog on heartworm treatment. The test is a blood test. After your dog has been on heartworm medication for six months, your vet will want to re-do the test. Heartworm preventatives are not 100 percent effective, particularly if they are not used per label instructions or doses are missed. Therefore, routine heartworm screening is recommended so that the disease can be caught early, when treatment is safest and most effective.
If your dog contracts heartworm disease, he/she will receive treatment to stabilize their condition. Then your vet will give him/her medication to kill any circulating microfilariae and they will then get a series of 3 injections over a month’s time to kill adult worms in the heart and lungs. Your dog will have to be hospitalized so the vet can monitor your pet’s progress. Prednisone and doxycycline are typically used to treat heartworms.
If your dog has naval syndrome, his/her prognosis is not good. A surgical procedure is used to try to remove the adult worms from the heart, but most dogs will die regardless of the treatment.
Managing Heartworm Disease
If your dog is being treated for Heartworm disease, it is vital for them to be put on exercise restriction during and after the treatment. Dogs that are severely affected need to be restricted to a cage. And, for dogs recovering from congestive heart failure, a restricted sodium diet will be recommended. After the heartworm has been treated, a test should be done six months from the time it was completed to check for the parasite. If the test comes out positive, the treatment will be repeated.
Heartworm Products:
There are several options for heartworm prevention. These include chewable tablets, pills, injections and topical medications. It is vital to have the heart worm test BEFORE starting your pet on heart worm prevention because giving heartworm medication to a dog/cat that is already infected can lead to additional health issues. A year’s supply of heart worm preventative medicine will cost about $35 to $80, depending on how much your dog weighs.
If your pug is not taking heartworm prevention, please start it today!!
Until next time!!
Love and Pug Kisses,
Candy
