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Dog Diseases Parasites Article
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Dog Heartworms
from: Kyle BesserThe heartworm got its name from the fact that this parasite actually inhabits the heart of dogs where they can grow as long as 11 inches. Mature heartworms create young heartworms called microfilaria. These young heartworms circulate through your dog's bloodstream during a mosquito bite. When the mosquito bites your dog, it can ingest these tiny young heartworms and then later infect another dog.
Once the mosquito carries the young heartworms to a new dog, the parasites go through two growing stages while under the dog's skin. Then they enter the dog's bloodstream through nearby veins. Once they reach your dog's heart, these tiny heartworms remain there where they mature and reproduce more tiny heartworms. The cycle takes an average of six months after the original mosquito bite.
To diagnose the presence of heartworms, your vet checks for microfilaria in your dog's blood. The presence of these tiny heartworms alone may not cause any symptoms of illness. A few of these parasites are not strong enough to cause any problem, and your dog may not have to go through any kind of treatment and medication. In fact, only a small percentage of dogs in an area may become noticeably sick from heartworm. It usually requires a heavy infestation from a large number of worms for your dog to show any symptom of illness.
In a few cases of heartworm infestation, a dog may experience breathing difficulty, persistent coughing, weakness and fatigue. In an extreme case of heartworm infestation, the dog can develop heart failure if not treated.
Once a dog show symptoms of this illness, treatment can be rather difficult, and the dog will most likely be hospitalized. The drugs used during the treatment are very toxic and harsh on your dog. The best way of preventing heartworm infestation is through preventive measures.
Your vet will more likely prescribe certain drugs to inhibit young heartworms while they are just starting to grow under the skin. Most vets will advise you to give your dog daily doses of this medication several weeks before the mosquito season starts.
Your vet may also advise you to continue with the treatment until about two months after the mosquito season is over. This could mean year round in some parts of the country where the climate is always mostly warm.
Your vet may also recommend another form of treatment that is only given once a month. This treatment kills all the baby heartworms that have accumulated during that months, thereby preventing the start of infestation.
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