Fact or Fiction? Lifesaving Information About Heartworm And Your Dog

If you have a dog at home, you’ve definitely heard about heartworm at some point during their life. Because this disease is so common, there are many myths and misconceptions about heartworm in dogs.

Do you know the truth about the cause, symptoms, testing, treatment, and prevention of this potentially fatal disease? Learn what’s myth vs. reality.

Dogs Get Heartworm Disease From Other Dogs – Fiction

There’s one way a dog can get heartworm: from the bite of an infected female mosquito. This is the only way your pup can get the disease.

The good news is if your dog becomes infected with heartworm, you don’t need to keep her away from other dogs in the home or neighborhood friends. The bad news is it is impossible to know if a mosquito carries the disease. If your pup gets bitten by the insect, there is a chance she will get heartworm.

The FDA reports that heartworm is most commonly found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River. However, there are cases reported in every single US state.

There Are No Symptoms Of Heartworm Disease – Fact/Fiction

At first, your dog may show little to no signs of the infection. However, the longer your dog has the disease, the more likely the symptoms will appear. These are some of the signs to look out for:

• A mild and persistent cough
• Lethargy
• Fatigue after moderate activity
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss

If left untreated, there are very serious consequences. Your dog could develop heart failure.  Her belly may appear swollen because of excess fluid in the abdomen.

Heartworm Can Be Life-Threatening – Fact

The harm is not immediate, but the sooner you can get your dog treated, the better. Once your dog is bitten by an infected insect, it takes about seven months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. They take up residence in your dog’s heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels and start reproducing. Adult heartworms can grow up to 12 inches in length and live 5-7 years. Dogs can have hundreds of worms in their system. Untreated, these worms can cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs in the body.

There Is No Test For The Disease – Fiction

As with many other serious diseases, early detection is key. Since symptoms are sometimes slow to show, it is extremely important your dog visits her vet annually for a simple blood test. Even if your dog takes heartworm prevention year-round (we’ll get to that in a little bit), she should still be tested by a vet.

 

Treatment Does Not Begin Immediately – Fact

Here’s the good news: most infected dogs can be successfully treated. And now for the challenging news: your dog must be stabilized before treatment can begin. Once you are aware your dog is ill, you’ll want to get them on the road to recovery right away. You’ll have to be patient. According to the American Heartworm Society, this is what happens when your pup tests positively: 

1. A second test will be administered to confirm your pup has the disease.
2. Your dog will need to slow down. “Physical exertion increases the rate at which the heartworms cause damage in the heart and lungs.”
3. Before treatment starts, some dogs will need therapy to stabilize their condition.
4. Once your dog is stabilized, treatment starts. Depending on the severity and maturation of the heartworms, different types of treatment are available. Often, your dog will receive an injectable drug.
5. Several months after your dog’s treatment is completed, they will be tested again to make sure there are no more traces of the disease.

Heartworm Is Preventable – Fact

Since heartworm travels via mosquitos, there is no “natural” remedy for the disease. The best way to prevent it is by prescriptive medicine from your vet. There are different types: a monthly chewable pill (in a flavor your dog will love), topical “spot on” medications, and an injectable that is given every six months. Always talk with your vet for a recommendation.

This is what you need to remember: make sure you give your pup their heartworm medication on time. Confirm that whatever medicine you give is specifically for heartworm (that’s where the vet prescription is key). This is one monthly appointment you shouldn’t miss.

Preventative medicine costs anywhere between $70-$200 a year. Consider this: treatment for full-blown heartworm can cost upwards of $1200. Which would you rather pay?

The Bottom Line On Heartworm

More than a million dogs in the U.S. have heartworm disease, according to the American Heartworm Society. The best way to keep your dog out of that statistic is by giving them preventative medication. Even if you live in an area without many mosquitos present, heartworm is still very possible. Stay on time with the medication, and make sure your pup is tested annually. Sometimes symptoms take a long time to appear, so testing is critical.