Heartworm disease. The name alone is enough to make any pet owner uneasy.
And there are many reasons to worry also. For one – if left untreated, it can turn into a fatal condition for both cats and dogs. But the good news is – this parasitic infection is preventable.
If you’re a pet parent or planning to bring a pet into your life, you should be aware of heartworm diseases and it’s symptoms to be able to give proper care to your pet. It’s best to speak with Virginia Beach veterinary hospital vets to know what all preventive measures you can take to avoid this disease.
In this blog, we have broken down it all for you so that you stay ahead of this nasty disease.
Understanding Heartworm Disease in Pet
Heartworm is a parasitic infection caused by Dirofilaria immitis. This parasitic worm is carried by mosquitos and transmitted when an infected mosquito bites an animal. With each bite, the mosquito deposits microscopic larvae into the bloodstream. These larvae turn into foot-long worms that gets lodged in the internal organs causing organ damage.
Since dogs are the primary hosts for heartworms, the worms flourish and even multiple inside them. You would be surprised to know that a single dog infected with heartworm can carry hundreds of worms. On the contrary, worms can infect cats, but they can grow to full maturity in cats. However, even immature worms can harm the cat and cause multiple health issues.
How Common Is Heartworm Disease?
While all 50 states across the USA has cases of heartworm disease, it’s more prominent in humid and warm climates like Midwest, Gulf Coast, and Southeast. Basically, any place with favorable climate for mosquitos to breed and thrive has higher cases of heartworm disease. Statistically speaking, over a million pets in the country get infected with this worm each year in the U.S.
And even indoor pets are not immune to heartworm disease. Without proper mosquito control system in place, mosquitos can sneak in and infect your pet. Thus, you should be vigilant and take year-round prevention plan to protect your pets.
Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in Dogs and Cats
What makes this disease one of the deadliest of all is that there are no early signs or symptoms. By the time your pet will show signs of infection, the condition would’ve already advanced.
In Dogs:
- Persistent cough
- Fatigue after light activity
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Swollen belly (due to fluid buildup from heart failure)
- Difficulty breathing
- Collapse (in severe cases)
In Cats:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Vomiting (often unrelated to eating)
- Loss of appetite
- Sudden collapse or death
Cats’ body react differently to heartworm parasites and thus, the symptoms are manifested differently than in dogs. In cats, HARD or Heartworm-associated respiratory disease is more common. This condition is often mistaken for asthma or bronchitis.
How Is Heartworm Disease Diagnosed?
In dogs, simple blood test is enough to determine whether they have heartworm disease of not. In cats, on the other hand, blood test is not enough. Since cats carry lower worm burdens, chest X-rays or ultrasounds are also performed to determine heartworm disease.
How is Heartworm Disease Treated?
In Dogs:
If your dog tests positive for heartworms, treatment is possible but requires caution. The standard approach includes:
if your dog is diagnosed with heartworm disease, you should get the treatment started as early as possible. Here is how a standard treatment procedure looks like:
Stabilization: In cases with severe symptoms, the vet first addresses the any immediate health concerns that may get fatal.
Medicine: Once your dog’s condition is stable, the vet at Virginia Beach vet hospital will give a series of injections with melarsomine, an FDA-approved drug.
Rest: While your dog is undergoing the treatment, make sure they get enough rest and sleep. Restrict any exercise or physical activity that might pressurize your dog’s lungs.
Prevention: Once your dog is heartworm free, ensure they get year-round preventive care to avoid reinfection
In Cats:
For cats, sadly, the treatment isn’t this straightforward. Reason being-there is no approved drug for heartworms in cats; so, the treatment usually focuses on managing the symptoms and assisting respiratory function. In case your cat is suffering from severe heartworm infection, your vet may suggest surgical removal of the parasites. But this procedure is also risky.
Heartworm Prevention: The Best Defense
Now let’s focus on the good part. Heartworm disease is completely PREVENTABLE! There are plenty of medications in the form of injections and oral suspension syrups to stop heartworm larvae from thriving. You can speak with your vet for any of these preventive medication for your pet.
- Ivermectin-based medications (Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Max)
- Milbemycin-based preventatives (Interceptor Plus, Sentinel Spectrum)
- Moxidectin-based treatments (ProHeart 6, ProHeart 12, Advantage Multi)
Most of these preventatives also protect against intestinal parasites, making them a win-win for pet health.
Heartworm disease can turn fatal if left untreated and since there are no early symptoms to detect it, prevention becomes crucial. Heartworm is a silent killer and only your vigilance and proactive approach can defect it.
