heartworm or canine heartworm is a disease that dogs, other pets such as cats and ferrets, and even people can get. It is usually transmitted by infected sandflies, which act as vectors of this pathology, and is considered one of the most serious parasitic diseases and common in dogs.
As it is a pathology that is sometimes asymptomatic but which can also cause the death of the dog, it is vitally important to carry out carry out adequate preventive medicine, since the treatment of heartworm is complex and long.
What is heartworm disease?
canine heartworm is a disease that was first detected in felines around 1920. It consists of a parasitic disease caused by a nematode called Dirofilaria immitis, which mainly parasitizes the heart and pulmonary arteries of dogs through the bloodstream. They usually accumulate in the right ventricle and in the blood vessels of the lungs, where they grow to be 15 or 30 cm in length
This parasitosis blocks the blood supply in a short time, as its reproduction is especially fast; in fact, more than 100 worms can be found in a severe infestation.
Adult nematodes feed on the nutrients present in the blood of the affected dog and can live between 5 and 7 years inside the body, until death occurs due to cardiac arrest.
How is heartworm transmitted?
This disease is transmitted by a vector, as is the case of phlebotomus, however, contagion can also occurduring gestation from bitch to unborn puppies.
The vector usually absorbs the parasite in its youngest phase, after feeding on the blood of an infected individual Inside the sandfly, over two or three weeks, the larvae will develop until they become still immature worms. Then, when the mosquito bites another individual, it transmits the immature worms and thus begins heartworm disease in a hitherto he althy dog.
The immature worms will develop in the tissues of the affected animal and, finally, as they become adults, they will host in the heart andthe pulmonary arteries through the blood supply to continue their life cycle. From the time the parasites enter a dog's body until they reach maturity, it can take 80 to 120 days
It is unlikely that we will find adult Dirofilaria immitis worms in puppy dogs under 7 months, however, we can still find small worms in the process of maturation, known as “microfilariae”. This only happens in the case of direct contagion, when the mother of the puppies suffers from the disease and, during pregnancy, the microfilariae are transmittedthrough the placenta to the body of the developing puppies.
All this makes the infested puppy a possible transmitter of the disease, in addition to experiencing it himself, since if a sandfly bites him, it will acquire the parasites and can transmit it to other individuals.
This parasite affects not only dogs, but also a large number of animal species, among which we can mention cats, ferrets, coyotes and even humans, as it is one of the diseases that dogs transmit to humans and vice versa. In addition, it is currently widespread throughout the planet, except in the Antarctic area, with humid areas being the most propitious in terms of risk of transmission.
In Spain the areas with the most incidences of this parasite are the Canary Islands and, within the peninsula, the southwest, the Delta of the Ebro and the south of the Valencian Community. Even so, the heartworm can be found throughout the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the hottest and most humid seasons. In addition, there are more than seventy different mosquito species that can transmit the Dirofilaria immitis parasite.
Heartworm symptoms in dogs
Individuals that have been infested may be asymptomatic, that is, they do not show obvious signs caused by this pathology. This is precisely why heartworm disease is often detected late in life.
The most common symptoms of heartworm in dogs are:
- General tiredness
- Exercise intolerance
- Heart rate increased
- Soft cough and shortness of breath
- Nosebleeds
- Oral bleeds
- Apathy and depression
- Weightloss
- Fainting
- Anorexia (the dog does not want to eat)
- Ascites
- Heart attack
It is vitally important Go to a veterinary clinic if we observe any of the symptoms mentioned above in order to determine if the cause is due to the presence of heartworm or canine heartworm.
Heartworm Diagnosis in Dogs
Your dog can be diagnosed with heartworm by a variety of laboratory tests, including a blood test, which will show the infection and other common symptoms of the disease, such as anemia, coagulation problems, kidney problems and elevated liver transaminases. The latter is because the kidneys and liver are being affected.
Since false negatives can occur, it may also be necessary to perform X-rays or ultrasounds, which will confirm the presence of the heartworm in the dog's body.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, the prognosis can be highly variable and even guarded.
Heartworm treatment in dogs
Although there is no general treatment for heartworm disease, diagnostic tests will help your veterinarian determine how the treatment should be carried out, always taking into account the patient's state of he alth and the body's ability to respond positively.
However, although the process may be complicated in some cases, it is a treatable disease if it is diagnosed early and performed an effective treatment to eliminate adult worms and larvae. Even so, it should be remembered that in advanced stages it can be very complicated to treat and that in some cases the death of the dog is inevitable.
Treatment is usually long, lasting several months, and usually begins with the administration of medication to expel microfilariae and larvae from the body, followed by several injections to remove adult worms Later, when this first phase After treatment has been successful, lifelong medication to prevent microfilariae is continued. It may also be necessary to apply medication to alleviate the symptoms experienced by the dog and support drugs for the affected organs, including the kidney and liver.
Finally we must provide vitamins and a diet that helps to strengthen the he alth of our dog, in addition to permanently establishing a plan preventive so that the infestation does not recur.
It is vital that during the parasite expulsion treatment, the affected dog takes a lot of rest to avoid obstructions and damage to the affected organs. When the dog is recovered, it should gradually resume normal activity, following the recommendations of the veterinarian.
It is important to remember that the treatment is aggressive, so it will leave a mark on the he alth of our faithful companion. For this reason, we will have to help him recover his strength and he alth once the treatment is over, while we will try during the treatment to reinforce the he alth of the dog following the veterinary advice provided by the specialist.
Heartworm Preventive Treatment in Dogs
Since it is such a serious parasitic pathology, which can also affect other animals and people, it is vitally important to carry out a preventive medicine planprescribed by our trusted veterinarian. So if you're wondering how to prevent heartworm in dogs, here are the best steps to take.
Because it is an asymptomatic disease in some cases, it is highly advisable to carry out a plan of monthly deworming, both external and internal, which helps us prevent a heartworm infestation in the dog. Likewise, we must strictly follow the deworming calendar, in addition to going to the specialist every six or twelve months to carry out control visits that guarantee the good he alth of the dog and the absence of parasitic diseases.
Following the advice of our veterinarian and using veterinary prescription products, we will be able to protect the dog and the whole family. Remember, because we love them, we protect them, deworm your pet.
