Pet Care Library

Heartworms

Heartworms are one of the major health problems of dogs in the U.S. and in temperate areas. The worms (dirofilaria immitis) can grow to be 14” long! They live in the heart and arteries of the lungs. Heartworms pose serious damage to your pets arteries that can lead to heart failure as well as damage other organs, such as the liver and kidneys. Heartworms are spread from animal to animal by mosquitos. It only takes a little over six months for infective larvae to mature into adult worms that may live for six to seven years in your dog. 

Clinical signs of heartworm disease may not be recognizable in the early stages. Many dogs that are recently or lightly infected generally exhibit no outward signs of disease. Heavily infected dogs may show clinical signs such as a mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move about or exercise, reduced appetite and weight loss. Worst cases develop heart failure and “swollen belly,” which is caused by an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.

At Krum Veterinary Hospital, we can perform a heartworm test that is inexpensive and let you know in 10 minutes if your dog is negative for this debilitating disease. We also have a full line of prevention to keep your pet heartworm-free! Prevention is always the best medicine, but if the worst occurs and your friend does have heartworms, Dr. Isbell can treat the heartworms and restore your animal to health.

We also carry a full line of heartworm prevention for your feline friend.

 

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