Heartworm Disease

Heartworm is a serious disease. Sometimes symptoms will not show up until the disease is well advanced. Heartworms are long thin white worms transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes. They can live in the right side of the heart and the adjacent blood vessels where they feed off nutrients in the blood and can cause cardiovascular weakness and affect the lungs, liver and kidneys. If not treated, death will occur.

Symptoms

Symptoms are coughing, fatigue and fluid buildup in legs or abdomen.

Treatment

Treatment includes the administering of an IV of an arsenic compound over a series of days to weeks to kill the heartworm. Since arsenic is toxic to your pet, blood tests to check the liver and kidney function must be taken before treatment.

Prevention

Prevention is the way to go. A blood test is needed before a monthly preventative (Interceptor) is administered during mosquito season. Flea treatments (Frontline) also repel mosquitoes to further reduce your pet's risk.