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Heartworm Disease
Canine and Feline Heartworm Disease is a serious and deadly disease found
wherever mosquitoes are present. Each year, thousands of dogs become
permanently debilitated or die needlessly from this easily preventable disease.
The heartworm life-cycle begins when a mosquito ingests a microfilaria
(larval heartworm) while sucking blood from an infected animal. The microfilariae
develop into the infective stage in the mosquito in 2-3 weeks. The infective stage
is then passed to the dog when the mosquito takes a blood meal. If the larva
is passed into a mammal other than a dog, for example, a human, the immune
system and tissues destroy the larva before they can cause disease. In the
dog and, rarely, the cat, the larvae find suitable conditions for survival
and propagate. Over the next 2-3 months, the larvae develop and migrate to
the heart. The life-cycle has now run full circle 5-6 months after the dog
was initially infected as the adult female heartworms begin to give birth
to microfilariae.
Remember that heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes!!! Any dog and
cat can get this disease. Not just animals that go outside.
The symptoms of heartworm disease are related to the cardio-vascular problems
they create. Coughing, lack of energy, tiring easily and weight loss are some
of the common clinical signs of advanced disease. Secondary liver and kidney
disease may develop in some dogs. Heartworms average 5 to 14 inches in
length and as many as 100 worms have been found in a single dog!
There are reliable tests to detect heartworm disease. Your pet should be
tested once a year and put on preventative all year round.
Prevention is as simple as giving a pill once a month. We recommend
Heartguard (ivermectin) for cats and dogs. Rough collies should be cautious
with Heartguard they are sensitive to ivermectin. There are other forms of
prevention to use instead.
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