'Tis the Season...For Heartworms?

As the weather continues to warm up, with it comes the wonderful return of our dreaded enemy, the mosquito. With them comes the return of the threat of heartworms for our canine friends.

If aren't familiar with what heartworms actually are, here's a brief explanation from PetsMD.com:
"Heartworms are a species of roundworms and live in the arteries of the lungs and heart and the blood vessels surround both."
Needless to say, this is a significant danger that can potentially be extremely serious to our companions.

Heartworm Transmission

Heartworms are passed through mosquito bites. Here's the process:

1. A mosquito bites an infected dog, and receives heartworm larvae with the blood.


2. Those larvae being to mature, and are spread to the dogs the mosquito bites.


3. The heartworm larvae travel in the blood to the heart and lungs and fully develop, leading to a infection of heartworms.

Defeating Heartworms Starts With Prevention

Heartworms can be very difficult to treat once an infestation has started. Treatment often entails multiple visits to your Vet, which includes a bill as large as the problem. There are several preventative treatments available, but must be obtained from your veterinarian. Options for treatment include a traditional pill (typically given with some kind of food), a chewy bar, and even a topical treatment.

Your chosen method of prevention will determine how often treatment is required; it is critical to adhere the prescribed schedule of treatment to keep your dog safe and healthy.

As a boarding, grooming and doggie daycare provider, we have assisted clients with getting their dogs to the Vet for check-ups. Unfortunately, we have seen more than a few cases where the heartworm prevention regiment wasn't maintained, and we had to deliver the news their dog is infected with heartworm disease.

Detecting the Undetectable

Unfortunately, once a dog is infected, heartworms can be very difficult for the owner to catch; the signs mirror those of other canide ailments. These signs include:

• Dry chronic cough


• Lethargy


• Weakness


• Loss of appetite


• Low energy levels

CAUTION: If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms for more than 72 hours, be sure to see your veterinarian.

Before your veterinarian will start a prevention program with your friend, he or she will do blood work to ensure your dog doesn’t already have an infection. Heartworm Disease can only be verified through this blood work, so be sure to keep an eye open for changes in your dog's behavior, and get him to the Vet early if you suspect she may be infected.

A regular grooming routine is a critical piece of catching heartworm disease early. More than just bathing, regularly brushing your canine's fur and being alert to the signs of mosquitoe bites will help you connect the dots if your dog’s behavior changes compared to when he or she received a bit. If you're unsure about what to look for, consider enlisting the services of a professional dog groomer who can point out when these appear.