Heartworm
Heartworm disease has been found across the US, including Colorado. All dogs are at risk for this disease. Fortunately, there is a once-a-month pill to help prevent heartworm infection. Mosquitoes carry this disease and transfer it between dogs. Your dog should be tested yearly for heartworm and kept on preventative medication year-round.
We all know that Colorado has mosquitoes. In fact, we are the #1 state for West Nile Virus infections from mosquito bites.
In addition to the existing mosquito problems in Colorado, relocation of Hurricane Rita and Katrina dogs has had a dramatic effect on the number of dogs in our area that have heartworm disease as well as intestinal parasites. It has been estimated that about 85% of these evacuated dogs are/were positive for heartworm disease.
Question: My dog stays mostly inside. Why does he need heartworm preventative?
Answer: Even if your dog only ventures outside for backyard bathroom duties, there is still an opportunity for a host mosquito to feed on your dog and transfer the heartworm into their bloodstream. Mosquitoes may also enter your house during the summer and infect your dog. "Inside" dogs are not safe from heartworm.
Question: Mosquitoes are only out in the summer. Why are you recommending heartworm preventative to be given year-round?
Answer: Here in Colorado our winters are getting shorter and spring seems to start earlier every year. Mosquitoes are out for longer periods of time. Our heartworm preventative, Interceptor, also protects against intestinal parasites such as: hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.
These parasites are found year round and are of particular concern because they are Zoonotic (humans can contract them from pets). People at greatest risk are: pregnant women, children, seniors, and people who are immuno-suppressed This is why Interceptor is still beneficial to our dogs in the winter months when mosquitoes are not present.
Question: Why should my dog be tested for heartworm every year if he is on preventative year-round?
Answer: No medication is 100% effective against heartworms, although we feel Interceptor is the best available. Also, your dog may spit out or vomit up the preventative without your knowledge.
With today's busy lifestyles many people forget to give a pill, or give it late, which can affect its efficacy.
It is best to test for heartworms before continuing the preventative due to health risks if your dog has adult heartworms.
Life Cycle
A mosquito feeds on an infected dog and takes up the immature worm in it's meal.
- The immature worm undergoes some maturity in the mosquito.
- The mosquito feeds on another dog and inoculates the host dog with the heartworm.
- The heartworm continues to mature in the dog and takes about 6 months to travel to the heart.
- The adult heartworm remains in the right side of the heart where it causes heart disease.
If additional infections occur and multiple adults reside in the heart, offspring can be produced and circulate in the blood stream.
Signs of heartworm Disease
Since heartworm infects the heart, many of the signs associated with this condition are related to the heart.
It can take many months to develop symptoms, but a dog can start coughing within four months of infection. Weight loss and lethargy are also common signs.
Raintree animal hospital has a quick and inexpensive test for heartworm that only takes ten minutes in our office. Once we know your dog is heartworm free, he can stay that way with monthly preventative treatment.
|
