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Description
Canine heartworm disease is caused by long, spaghetti-like worms which live in a
dog's heart. The worms, Dirofilaria immitis, have a number of life cycle stages.
A mosquito transfers a juvenile worm called a microfilaria from the bloodstream of
an infected canine host to your dog. The microfilaria matures to another life cycle
stage while in the mosquito. When this developed microfilaria infects your dog, it
ultimately moves into the heart chambers where it matures into an adult worm which
produces more microfilariae.
Disease
Mature worms in your dog's heart alter the blood flow, causing the heart to work
harder. This increased workload and decreased efficiency ultimately lead to heart
failure, lung and liver damage. The kidneys may also fail due to antibodies to the
worms clogging the small blood vessels of this organ.
Symptoms
In the early stages of infection, there are no symptoms. In advanced disease,
heart and lung signs predominate. These may include weakness, coughing, weight loss,
and inactivity.
Risks
Any dog living in a heartworm area is at risk. It is not just a disease of outdoor
or hunting dogs. Wherever heartworm-bearing mosquitoes are prevalent, your dog is
at risk of contracting this parasite. Kenneled dogs, those traveling to high-risk
areas and dogs housed around standing water where mosquitoes breed are at highest
risk. The Redwood Empire is an active area for heartworm, especially the Russian
River region and nearby lakes.
Diagnosis
Canine heartworm disease is detected by two basic methods. We can identify microfilarial
worms in the blood of moderately to heavily infected dogs. A blood test to identify
the proteins released from the adult worms allows detection of mild infections. If
a dog is diagnosed with heartworm infection, the following diagnostic tests may be
necessary prior to beginning treatment: chest radiographs (x-rays), blood chemistry
tests, and ultrasound of the heart.
Treatment
There now exists medication to kill the adult worms, but this treatment can be
dangerous due to the dog's reaction to the dying worms. Dogs may be hospitalized
for 2-3 days for treatment. Preventative measures are taken to reduce side effects
of the dying worms. Another medication is used to kill the microfilariae at a later
time.
Prevention
In the old days, daily
medication needed to be administered to prevent heartworm infections. Nowadays, a
monthly preventativeor 6-month long injection can be used to kill the microfilaria.
Dogs in the Redwood Empire should be on this medication year round. We feel Interceptor
oral medication
and Proheart injection to be the safest means
to control this disease. |
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