The reality is that worms aren’t just crawling on your sidewalks after the rain, they can live in your dog's heart and yes, you can blame mosquitoes. Heartworms are parasites that like to live in your dog’s heart and blood vessels. They can grow up to 12 inches long and an individual worm can survive 5-7 years INSIDE YOUR DOG. Scary, right? The worst part about heartworm disease is that over time as these parasites live in your dog, they can begin to impair heart and lung function and sometimes lead to death. 

In conjunction with National Heartworm Awareness this month, the folks here at Going Mutts Pet Services would like to keep the pet parents well informed about heartworm disease and how it can affect you and your pup. As always, we are not veterinarian professionals and any concerns or questions should always be directed to your pet’s physician.

Let’s start at the beginning: What is heartworm disease? Heartworms are parasitic organisms that can be found in your dog's heart, pulmonary artery and large blood vessels. Heartworms can reproduce within the host animal; females can produce millions of offspring called microfilaria that live mainly in the small vessels of the bloodstream. Dogs, coincidentally, are natural hosts for heartworms, providing the ideal environment for heartworms to mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. Adult heartworms can live up to five years and a single dog can host up to 250 worms. 

These worms can cause clogging in the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart, including the pulmonary artery, which can reduce the blood supply to other organs of the body causing malfunctions in organs. The lungs, liver and kidneys are the main organs (aside from the heart) that can receive damage from a reduced blood supply, causing malfunctions that can lead to possible death. 

So how are our dogs exposed to heartworms? The transmission requires a mosquito. A mosquito that bites an infected dog will pick up microscopic larval worms, which will develop inside the mosquito and then are transmitted when the mosquito bites another dog. If your dog lives with or near a heartworm-positive dog, the only way to transmit the disease is through the bite of a mosquito who is carrying the infection; your dog cannot be directly infected by having contact with a heartworm-positive dog. 

Climate variations, the presence of wildlife carriers and even specific species of mosquitoes can be variables for the presence of heartworm; however heartworm has been diagnosed across all 50 states in the US. According to The American Heartworm Society, one million dogs in the US have heartworm disease. The risk of infection does increase when mosquitoes are actively feeding, which requires temperatures to be over 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

But how long does it take to see symptoms of heartworm disease in my dog? Great question! Unfortunately, many dogs can show few to no symptoms during the early stages of the disease. The most obvious signs of heartworm disease in a dog are a soft, dry cough, shortness of breath, weakness, disinterest in activities and loss of stamina. These signs are more noticeable after exercise and can even make your dog faint or become disoriented. As it progresses, dogs may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in their abdomen. 

Heartworm disease can cause lasting damage to the heart, affecting a dog’s quality of life along with their health. The American Heartworm Society recommends that all pet parents “think 12:” get your dog tested every 12 months for heartworm AND give your dog heartworm preventative medication for 12 months a year. Year-round heartworm prevention works by treating heartworms that have already infected the dog within the past month or longer; but these preventatives need to be given on time, every time to be effective. Please note that these preventative medications can only be prescribed and obtained by a veterinarian OR with a veterinarian’s prescription through a pet pharmacy.

As scary as it can be to read about the effects that spaghetti-like parasites can have if they infiltrate your dog's heart, being on the offense and staying on top of prevention can be your best defense when it comes to heartworm disease. Keep “thinking 12” as The American Heartworm Society says and always do your year-round medication for your furry friend.

If you want to keep your dog’s heart happy and healthy, look no further than Going Mutts Pet Services for a paw-sitively great daily dog walker! We want to give your dog the attention and exercise they need while you tend to work so you don’t have to worry about splitting your time or rushing home. We at Going Mutts would love to help customize a daily dog walking routine or playtime for your pup, so contact us today for a free Meet ‘n Greet to get things started!

Sources:

https://www.heartwormsociety.org/heartworms-in-dogs 

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heartworm-tips-for-heartworm-awareness-month/

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/heartworm-disease-in-dogs