What You Need to Know About Heartworm Disease

The heartworm disease is caused by the Dirofilaria immitis parasite, which is a roundworm found inside the lungs blood vessels and the heart. The disease is spread by mosquitoes. It specifically affects the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system. The disease can cause death if not properly treated. Reservoir hosts of the heartworm disease can be either coyote, which is the major reservoir of the heartworms, or stray dogs, which have been infected by the heartworm disease.

Symptoms of Heartworm Disease

The symptoms cannot be easily identified and the following symptoms can be seen as the number of heartworms increases:

• Coughing
• Intolerance
• Lack of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Lethargy

The above symptoms, if not treated on time, may cause damage which can not be reversed.

Who Can Be Easily Infected by the Disease

The disease has been identified in fifty states, though it has been seen more in the Southeast and along the Mississippi River. According to the American Heartworm Society, it has been found that the infections are increasing in the United States. It can also affect cats and this has not been realized by many pet owners as they only know that the disease affects dogs. This has been shown by the recent study by the American Heartworm Society. Any animal bitten by a mosquito is in danger of being infected by the parasite.

How the Heartworm Disease Can Be Identified

The presence of heartworms can be detected through blood tests. This tests can be done by veterinarians in the clinics and results are shown after a few minutes. The disease can also be determined by additional laboratory tests, radiographs, and cardiac ultrasounds as recommended by the American Heartworm Society.

Treatment of the Disease

The aim of treating the disease is to kill the heartworms without harming the animal. Luckily enough, the idea of treatment have improved but the risks can occur in the future. Intramuscular injections, hospitalization, and keen confinement limit exercise for weeks to the infected animals. Some of the disadvantages of the treatment include: using more resources, taking a lot of time and having risks. Depending on the above disadvantages, prevention of the disease is referred to as the treatment of the above dangerous disease.

Climate Influences

Changes in the environment, for example, first were believed to trigger the heartworm disease. The risks of infection of heartworm occur in all the 50 states of the United States.

Sources Which Are Indoor

Heartworm dogs can also infect indoor animals especially in winter where there are indoor mosquitoes.

Size

Adult heartworms can increase to over a foot in length while larva stages are small in size. The dog's circulation system is infected easily and the condition can cause death.

How to Prevent the Disease

It is good to prevent the disease in the first place; there are many effective preventive measures available. It can be given in many forms that are, oral, topical, and injectable. Apart from heartworm protection, the preventive measures can also protect the animal against other internal parasites as it prevents their spread. Once the preventive measures have administered to the pet, the person can be sure that the animal is not at any risk of picking up parasites like roundworms that can be transmitted to other animals and other human beings.

The veterinarian has to test the animal on the heartworm infection before administering preventive medication. The animal must be older than six months to prevent serious complications that may result from preventive measures. Elimination of the breeding sites of mosquitoes can be an effective way of mosquito control which is draining stagnant water in dishes, ponds flower pots, and puddles. Window panes should be fitted perfectly and should not have spaces where mosquitoes can penetrate. Outdoor exposure at twilight must be avoided as the mosquitoes actively fade at this time. Lastly, dogs should be kept indoors.