Heartworm

Critter Chat Heartworm
Hi everyone and welcome to critter chat. This fortnight we want to clarify some facts about Heartworm, a potentially lethal but easily preventable disease.

As its name suggests, Heartworm is a worm that lives as an adult in a dog’s heart and main pulmonary (lung) veins of the heart. It affects cats too, but usually lives on the outer edge of the lungs in cats. It is spread between animals by the common mosquito. A mozzie feeds on an infected animal and picks up juvenile worms circulating in that animal’s bloodstream, it is then passed to your healthy pet when he or she is bitten by that mosquito. Its transmission is similar to malaria or Ross River fever.

The adult worms living in the heart cause abnormal turbulence and act as a blockage to blood flow, effectively causing congestive heart failure.

These signs include:

A persistent dry cough

Lethargy or depression

Exercise intolerance or excessive panting

Anaemia (pale gums and eyelids)

If your pet is exhibiting any of these symptoms please contact us at the vet clinic to arrange an appointment. Heartworm disease is treatable but requires hospitalisation and usually ongoing medical care.

However, this nasty disease process can be really easily and effectively prevented. There are either monthly or daily tablets available as an effective preventative, or there is a convenient annual injection that is both simple and effective. Also some monthly flea control products include heartworm prevention. Be warned though that if your adult dog is not currently on heartworm prevention then they’ll need to be tested, as sometimes giving already infected animals preventative medication can cause a life-threatening reaction as well! If you have a pup under the age of six months, it is safe to start them on heartworm prevention straight away.

I hope this has cleared up a few myths about heartworm disease. If there is anything else you’d like to know about heartworm please feel free to talk to us at the clinic.