Taking Heartworms Seriously

As the weather continues to warm up, with it comes the wonderful return of our dreaded enemy, the mosquito. Along 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 description 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 fatal to our four-legged friends.

Heartworm Transmission

Heartworm is passed through mosquito bites. Here's the process:

1) A mosquito bites an infected dog, and gets undeveloped larvae in the blood extracted.
2) Those larvae being to mature, and are passed to more dogs the mosquito attacks.
3) The heartworm larvae move in the circulatory system to the heart and lungs and fully develop, leading to an infestation of heartworms.

Prevention is the Key to Defeating Heartworms

Heartworms can be very difficult to treat once an infestation has started. Treatment often entails multiple visits to your veterinarian, which includes a bill as large as the problem. Your veterinarian have multiple preventative treatments, including a pill, chewy bars, and topical treatments.

Your chosen method of prevention will determine how often treatment is required; it is essential 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.

Heartworm Early Detection

Unfortunately, once a dog is infected, heartworms can be very difficult for the owner to catch; the symptoms are very similar to that of other common canine ailments. These symptoms 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 Vet.

Before your Vet will start a prevention regiment with your friend, he or she will do a blood test to ensure your pet isn't already infected. This is the only way to effectively diagnose heartworms

A regular grooming routine is a vital piece of catching a heartworm infestation early. More than just bathing, regularly brushing your canine's coat and keeping a watchful eye for insect bites will help you catch a possible infection early. If you have a hard time seeing through your dog's coat, consider enlisting the services of a professional dog groomer who can point out when these appear.