If Your Pets Are Not On Pet Prescription Heartworm Prevention Program, They May Contract The Parasite Through The Bite Of An Infected Mosquito.
Before beginning a course of heartworm prevention in a dog that’s older than six months, it’s important to test your pet for heartworm to make sure there aren’t any adult worms which have already established an infection. The worms look similar to cooked spaghetti and can grow to be around 12 inches long. Heartworms (dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic roundworms that can infect both dogs and cats.
Heartworms, Which Are A Type Of Roundworm Scientifically Known As Dirofilaria Immitis, Is Transmitted Through Mosquito Bites.
The worms can inflame the vessels in the heart. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos, and the worms live in the heart and lungs of the dog. Within 10 to 14 days, the larvae reach an infectious stage.
Internal Parasites Are Especially Dangerous To Puppies Because They Can Really Mess With The Puppy’s Developing Systems And Can Deplete The Necessary Balance Of Nutrients.
The american heartworm society recommends starting a puppy on heartworm prevention no later than eight weeks of age. The problem is, in the meantime, all of those heartworms are doing permanent damage to the heart and blood vessels. Cats and ferrets can also get heartworm disease.
If Your Dog Is In The Early Stage Of Heartworm Infection Or Only Has Male Worms, The Blood Test May Come Back Negative (Especially Since It Only Tests For Proteins Given Off By Female Heartworms).
The longer the infection persists, the more likely symptoms will develop. A case like this can create lifelong damage to a dog. In the early stages of the disease, many dogs show few symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Symptoms Of An Allergic Reaction In Dogs Include:
The adult heartworms mate and the females release their offspring into the dog’s. If you have young children, take extra precaution with the internal parasites. The american heartworm society estimates that more than a million dogs in the u.s.
