Heartworm disease also known as dirofilariasis, is a serious and potentially fatal disease that occurs in all canine and feline breeds. It is caused by a blood-borne parasite or worm called Dirofilaria immitis which resides in one of the big blood vessels from the heart (the pulmonary artery). Also, found in adjacent large blood vessels of infected dogs and cats, these worms are called heartworms because they reside in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of the infected animal. The canine or feline may have as many as 250 worms present in the heart and they can also multiply and cause severe complications. Adult worms cause inflammation of the blood vessels and can block blood flow leading to pulmonary thrombosis and heart failure.
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When the primary infection occurs, the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis spreads through the bite of a mosquito making the dog a definitive host, which implies that the worms mature into adults, mate, and produce while living inside the dog’s body. The mosquito being the intermediate host lives inside a mosquito for a short transition period to become infective and cause heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a serious disease that causes lung disorders, heart failure, multiple organ damage, and even death in dogs, cats, and even ferrets.
Stages Of The Heartworm Disease
There are four classes of heartworm disease:
Class 1: The pet shows no symptoms or may have mild symptoms such as an occasional cough
Class 2: Pet will display Mild to moderate symptoms such as mild cough, tiredness, and lethargy
Class 3: The pet shows symptoms such as persistent cough, tiredness after mild activity and refusal to eat, trouble breathing, and signs of heart failure begin to occur
Class 4: This is also called Caval syndrome. In this case, the blood flowing back to the heart is physically blocked by a large mass of worms which causes the heart to cease functioning. Caval syndrome is life-threatening, and the only treatment option is surgical removal of the heartworms The surgery carries potential risks and dogs and cats with Caval syndrome have less chance of survival.
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Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of heartworm disease:
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Severe coughing
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty breathing
- Pale or blue-colored gums
- Bloody urine
- Tantrums and aggression
What Is The Treatment for Heartworm Disease
While heartworm disease is a serious concern, most infected pets can be successfully treated if diagnosed on time by stabilizing them and then killing all adult and immature worms Treatment typically involves multiple injections of Melarsomine, the only FDA-approved drug that can kill heartworms and erase microfilariae from the pet’s bloodstream. These require a veterinarian’s prescription. A topical liquid is also applied on the skin or can be administered as an oral tablet in a non-chewable and chewable form. A few medications are injected into the back muscles every six or twelve months, only by a veterinarian though. It helps to treat dogs who have been stabilized under 1, 2, and 3 stage of this ailment. Some heartworm preventive medication may also contain other ingredients that can prove effective against roundworms, hookworms, and other parasites like fleas, ticks, and ear mites.
Prevention
At present there is no vaccine for the prevention of heartworm disease. Thus, your furry buddies need to be protected right from an early stage. Take your pet in for every scheduled well-puppy exam when they are young. Also, the treatment for heartworm disease is not easy on the animal besides being an expensive one. Treatment for some pets can be potentially toxic and may cause serious complications such as life-threatening blood clots in the lungs. Treatment also includes multiple visits to the veterinarian, several blood tests, X-rays, hospitalization in some cases, and several rounds of injections. Whether your dog is a puppy or an adult, you will need to talk with your veterinarian before starting your dog on a heartworm-preventative plan. Dogs over seven months of age need to be tested for heartworms first because if the dog is already infected, the preventative medications can cause harm. The veterinarian will work with you to find the best alternative to protect your four-legged from these nasty parasites
