Heartworm is a serious and often fatal disease that is easily preventable. Do you live in the darker areas on this map?
Regardless of where you live, you should have your dog tested for heartworm and then put on prevention, if the test is negative.
Dr. Kerri Marshall, chief veterinary officer at Trupanion, provided the insight below on heartworm in dogs.
Is it true you have to have your dog tested before you start heartworm prevention? Why?
KM: Yes, prevention can be harmful if given to your pet when they have heartworm. The prevention works to kill adult heartworms, releasing toxins and also causing emboli (clots) in the blood vessels as they break apart. Dogs and cats may have heartworms without clinical signs so you can’t tell without testing.
Always purchase heartworm prevention from your veterinarian. Over-the-counter treatments (even dewormers) can cause severe life-threatening reactions in dogs with heartworms—from heart failure to liver failure— as the heartworms break up when they die and shower the system.
What are the main symptoms of heartworm?
KM: In the early stages of heartworm, dogs may show very few symptoms. As the disease progresses, the most common symptoms are the same as heart disease:
- coughing from fluid buildup in the lungs
- lethargy
- sudden death if the heartworm blocks a vessel, or leads to liver failure
What the best preventive care measures for heartworm?
KM: Every dog and case is different so the best preventative care is that recommended by your veterinarian after an exam and heartworm test.
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and a member of the Dog Writers Association of America. She is the founder of A Fairytail House. In her spare time, she trains and competes in a variety of performance events with her Shetland Sheepdogs and caters to her two rescue kitties. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
