What is heartworm disease, and how can it affect my dog?
Heartworm disease is a very serious and deadly disease carried by mosquitoes. It will cause dogs to have worms that infect their heart and occlude it.
Dr. Becka Byrd
Northern Oaks Bird And Animal Hospital
Can dog heartworms be prevented?
Absolutely. They can be prevented in several ways, from mosquito control to giving your dog preventatives.
What are the signs in my dog that would indicate they have heartworms?
The advanced disease causes a cough, lethargy or tiredness, a lack of interest in things they enjoy, and a lack of appetite.
What are some middle to late-stage symptoms of heartworms?
Middle to late-stage symptoms would include having an enlarged liver and stomach, being unable to move around much, and acting like they're very tired.
What can be done to stabilize my dog's heartworm disease?
If a dog has heartworm disease, we want to start them on preventatives as soon as possible to prevent the disease from worsening. We want to get them on IV fluids, figure out what stage they're in, and then begin treatments so that we can get them healthy as quickly as possible.
How soon should I bring my dog in to see a veterinarian for heartworm prevention?
As soon as you obtain your pet. Once you get a puppy, we want to start them on preventative just as soon as possible. Heartworms are a risk year-round where we live, so we want to prevent heartworm disease as soon as you get a puppy.
How will a veterinarian diagnose if my dog has heartworms?
It is as simple as a blood test. We only need a drop of blood. We use a blood test that will help us determine if your dog has heartworm disease.
Why is early detection and diagnosis of heartworm so important?
Early detection helps us know if they have it. We can hopefully prevent disease before it causes permanent damage to the heart. If we catch it early, we can treat it and eliminate the worms before they cause any kind of fibrosis or permanent damage to that muscle. If it advances to the point that the muscles are damaged, it can kill your dog. So we want to get them eliminated very soon.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (210) 496-1315, you can email us, or you can reach out on social media. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can.
Dog Heartworm - FAQs
Dr. Becka Byrd
Northern Oaks Bird And Animal Hospital
How is heartworm prevented in dogs?
It's pretty easily prevented with one of several different types of prevention. There are chewables that are given monthly, and there are also injections that can be given once every six months or once a year.
When should I start heartworm prevention in my dog?
As soon as you obtain your dog. Heartworms are something that's deadly, and it's a risk year-round in south Texas because we never get rid of mosquitoes, which is the vector for them.
How effective is heartworm prevention?
Extremely effective. There are cases where dogs can spit out a heartworm preventative treat or where a topical preventative doesn't actually hit the skin. In those cases, if the preventative was purchased through a veterinary source, the heartworm preventative company will guarantee the product and cover treatment. However, almost all of the time, it is very effective.
Does my dog still need a heartworm test if they are on prevention?
They do because there are cases, like any medication, where there's a breakthrough infection.
Are there any holistic or over-the-counter dog heartworm preventatives?
Absolutely not. There are some online claims that there can be preventatives or treatments. There's even a Guinness remedy out there, but those are absolutely not effective.
Can I do anything in my dog's environment to reduce the risk of heartworms?
Treating mosquitoes by keeping your yard free of mosquitoes, standing water, or anything that helps prevent mosquitoes will reduce the risk of heartworm infection.
What should I do if I miss a dose of my dog's heartworm prevention?
Give it as soon as you remember. Then remember, six months from that time, they need to be tested because it takes six months from the time of a bite to show active infection.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (210) 496-1315, you can email us, or you can reach out on social media. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can.