Indicative Signs of Heartworm Infestation in Dogs



Regular grooming is not enough to keep your fur in check. As a pet owner, you have to make sure that your pet’s life is as happy, healthy and parasite-free free as possible. There are so many unwanted parasitic hitchhikers waiting for your pet. So, it is always best way to know how to properly protect your pet against parasites.

Chances are you have possibly heard about the parasite-derived illness – heartworm. A heartworm infection is a silent killing health problem in dog. In this case, a life-threatening number of worms covers the heart, its nearby vessels and possibly cause heart fail. If you have a dog, you should notice heartworm on time. And, therefore you need to know how can your dogs get heartworm and is your dog at risk or not?

Let’s First be Cleared How it Happen:


Heartworm is a mosquitoes-born infection. Actually, the heartworm lives in the heart, lungs, and its surrounding blood vessels. Hence, a mosquito feed on an infected pet, it acquires microfilariae and then deposit it other animal. This way the microfilariae enter the host pet’s body by bite wounds and mature within the next 2 months and become adults. They enter the blood supply, migrate to the heart and repeat its life cycle. The adult heartworms can live about 5 to 7 years in dogs.

Gradually, the population of heartworm increase and damage blood vessels and causes an inflammatory response. In this way, the heartworm can infect your dog and cause damage to their heart, lungs, and arteries. All ages of dogs are at risk of heartworms.

Symptoms that Sign Your Dog might have Heartworm:




Does my dog have heartworm? Almost pet owners have such question. Actually, it is not an easy task to detect signs your dog has heartworm. To be more specific about that, take a glimpse on following indicative signs that will help you to confirm your suspicions.

A Dry Coughing:
The first early sign of heartworms is coughing. It starts with mild cough then as the heartworms progresses it may end with fainting. So, be watchful for the cough in your dog and if it is excessive then get vet care for your dog.

Breathing Problem:
When the heartworm infection reachs to the bloodstream and the coughing and fatigue becomes worsen over time, it may be difficult to get enough oxygenate for dog. And, it results in breathing difficulties like short breathing, shallow breaths or rapid breathing. Hence, it is very important to keep an eye on your dog’s breathing pattern.

Weight Loss or Anorexia:
The dog with heartworm may be anorexic and even loses a significant amount of weight. Your dog may refuse to eat and may have trouble in digesting food.

Enlarged Chest:
If your dog has heartworms, then his chest might appear to bulge out. This might be possible due to weight loss or buildup of fluid in the chest in response to the presence of worms. This is sign shows that the disease is in a late stage.

Fatigue or Inactivity:
The infested dog seems less active than usual. He mostly avoids going outside and shows less interest in all physical activity. He may sleep more and more. At this point, the heartworm can be identified by a blood test. 

An Allergic Reaction:
At some point, dogs also show an allergic reaction or asthmatic symptoms if he has worm infestation. So whether your dog scratches or rubs their rear or sneezing, it could possibly due to worms.

Collapsing:
As the numbers of the heartworms invade in dog’s heart chambers, it cause blockage of blood flow. This leads to alarm or damage of red blood cells, and as result the dog start collapsing. If left untreated, it can be fatal. So, take action as quick as possible.

Other Signs of Heartworm Disease in Dogs:



Along with above common signs, your dog may also have following signs:

  • Secondary pneumonia
  • Nosebleeds
  • High blood pressure
  • Seizures
  • Blindness
  • Lameness or difficulty moving

Ultimately, it’s important to recognize all common symptoms of heartworm parasites in your dog. The earlier you detect the condition more accurately and be able to start dog heartworm preventative treatment, the easier it will be to treat the nasty parasites. This is one of the best ways to take care of your dog's overall health.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Decode Your Cat's Body Language: How to Interpret Their Tails, Ears, Eyes, and Whiskers

Image
Have you ever wondered what your cat is trying to tell you with their body language? Cats are very expressive animals, but they use a different language than humans. They communicate with their tails, ears, eyes, and whiskers to convey their emotions, needs, and health. By learning how to decode your cat's body language, you can better understand and bond with your feline companion.  If you want to understand your cat better, you need to learn how to read their body language. Cats use different postures, gestures, and expressions to communicate their feelings and intentions. In this article, we will provide you with a cat body language chart that explains the most common cat signals and what they mean. We will also give you some tips on how to react to your cat's messages and how to avoid conflicts. This guide is useful for both new and experienced cat owners who want to speak cats fluently. The Secret Language of Cat Tails Source: cloudfront.net Your cat's tail is one of t
Read more

Dog Anxiety Awareness Week - Signs, Causes and Prevention

Image
We all want our dogs to be happy, healthy, and stress-free. Like humans, dogs can experience anxiety and stress. It's essential to recognize the signs of stress in dogs and take steps to manage and reduce them. That's why we have Dog Anxiety Awareness Week, which is observed annually in the first week of May.  What is Dog Anxiety Awareness Week?  Dog Anxiety Awareness Week is an initiative that aims to raise awareness about the signs of anxiety in dogs and provide information on how to control stress. The week-long campaign encourages dog owners to be mindful of their dog's behavior and take steps to reduce stress. The ultimate goal is to improve the overall well-being of dogs and reduce their stress levels.  Anxiety Signs in Dogs Dogs exhibit a range of signs when they are experiencing nervousness. Some of the most common signs of anxiety in dogs include: • Excessive barking or howling • Aggressive or destructive behavior • Excessive panting or drooling • Hiding o
Read more

Can You Give Nexgard and Heartgard Plus Together? Know All About This Combination

Image
There is a wide range of preventive treatments for internal and external parasites available on the market for dogs. Some are specifically designed to combat fleas and ticks, while others target worms and heartworms. Additionally, some all-in-one preventives can address multiple parasites with a single treatment. The majority of pet parents are in doubt that can you give heartworm and flea medicine at the same time? Or Can you give your dog/puppy heartworm and flea medicine at the same time?  The answer here is yes; the combination of the two can protect your furry friend from both internal and external parasites. But first, let's talk about the Flea and tick & heartworm medicines - Nexgard and Heartgard Plus. Nexgard for Dogs Nexgard is a powerful flea and tick treatment for dogs that starts working in just 8 hours. It targets four types of ticks and contains afoxolaner, a highly effective ingredient that eliminates external parasites. Safe for use on dogs over 8 weeks old. He
Read more