Understanding Heartworm Disease and prevention for your pet
Heartworm illness is a dangerous illness that affects dogs, cats, and ferrets. Pets could develop serious lung diseases or organ damage, heart failure, or even death due to the symptoms.
Heartworms are a natural host for dogs. They live inside the dog, develop into adults, mate, and produce progeny.
Even after the parasites have been removed, dogs might have a plethora of worms inside their hearts, lungs, and arteries, causing harm to their overall health and quality of living. Heartworm disease can have long-term effects. This is why it is essential to avoid it rather than treatment after it has started.
Heartworm Disease and Prevention
Since heartworms can last for a long time, every time a mosquito infected attacks our pets, the number of worms could increase. Because dogs are the largest frequent carriers of heartworms, the article will focus on the canine heartworm. The majority of this information, however, also applies to other species.
Transmission
Heartworm transmission is dependent on the population of mosquitoes in an area. About 70 species of mosquitoes are in the position of transmitting disease. The greater the number of mosquitoes present in a particular zone, the greater chance of transmission of heartworm.
Cats are the primary carriers of heartworm diseases. According to new research, heartworm infection is the leading cause of heart disease in cats. Wild animals also are affected by heartworm. Contact a vet like the legacy animal hospital to get the best health care for your pet.
The Heartworm
The adult heartworm may grow to 6-14 inches in length. It’s thready and white in appearance, and it’s most commonly found in the heart’s pulmonary blood vessels and right ventricle. The process of mating occurs when mature female and male heartworms are found.
In the bloodstreams of dogs, microfilariae in circulation can last for two years or more—the mosquito functions as an intermediary host and a disease vector (transmitting agent). The disease is transmitted to a dog by the mosquito injecting microfilariae at the time of the bite.
Adult heartworms can cause pulmonary arterial irritation and increase thickness. It becomes more difficult for arteries to be irritated, and blood clots develop as time goes on. The pressure of blood increases due to the obstructed pulmonary vessels, which puts pressure on the right ventricle. Visit a website like LegacyAMC.com for more information.
Symptoms
The symptoms and signs of heartworm disease appear gradually. The symptoms typically do not manifest until three years after the first infection. The heart’s workload issues cause the majority of the symptoms.
The first signs are a lack of energy and difficulty exercising. Coughing and difficulty breathing are two of the most prevalent signs of heartworm infection. As the disease advances, most dogs have congestive heart failure and ascites.
In the final stages of the disease, pets frequently fall. Heartworms can be dangerous for dogs, but so are the treatments to treat heartworms.
Prevention
There are several alternatives available to pet owners to avoid heartworm illness. Pet owners should get heartworm screening done on their pets before starting preventative medication. Your vet should review the treatment options with you when heartworms are discovered.
The most well-known method of heartworm prevention is giving your pet a heartworm preventative monthly medicine. Many of these monthly medications are available as chewable treats. Some of them are used together with other preventive medications.
Your veterinarian can advise you on the appropriate solution for your dog. Don’t hesitate to speak to an animal specialist as soon as you can if you would like your pet to be examined for heartworm or if you’d like more information about the disease. Visit this page for more details.
