Heartworm Disease in Dogs

Heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) is a serious and potentially fatal condition to a dog’s heart and lungs. These vital organs become invaded by worms. But how does this happen?

The process starts when a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes carrying the infective heartworm larvae (microfilaiae) transmit it to the dog. The transmitted larvae begin to develop and then migrate in the dog’s body over a period of several months.

Once the infective larvae mature into adult worms (which takes about 6 months), they begin producing offspring microfilaria into the blood stream, which reside in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of the dog.

And once they are there they continue their devastating life cycle process of invading the dog’s arteries and causing the dog extensive injury.

Signs of Heartworm Disease

At the onset, dogs infected with heartworms show no signs of the disease. After the infection begins to worsen however, dogs slowly begin to show some signs including a decrease in appetite, lack of energy, and some develop a cough. If the infection is left untreated a dog could die of a sudden heart failure.

To identify heartworm infection, a veterinarian will perform blood tests, x-rays, and an ultrasound on the dog. A positive test indicates that a dog has adult heartworms. Keep in mind, even if a dog is not showing signs of the disease, damage is occurring in the blood vessels, heart, and lungs.

Most dogs infected with heartworms can be successfully treated. Successful treatment depends on early diagnosis (before heartworm symptoms are obvious) and the ability to kill all of the adult worms in the heart and arteries of the lungs. The treatment process for heartworms however, is not without its own threats to the dog including: drug complications and complications arising from the actual heartworms dying from within. The more severe case of heartworms the greater possibility of complications and mortality, so early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for success.

Preventing Heartworm Disease

While there is treatment for heartworms the best thing is prevention. Heartworm disease is totally preventable. All you have to do is make sure your pet is on a monthly preventative medicine. But before starting a preventive program, all dogs (especially those that could be possibly infective) should first be tested for heartworms by their veterinarian. The monthly treatments are preventative treatments they do not cure an infected dog.

Other things you can do to help minimize infection (besides preventatives) is reduce your dog’s exposure to mosquitoes. There are pet-friendly products like Neem Protect Spray which uses a natural tree oil that has been used in Asia for years to repel lice, mites, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, gnats, and ticks. It's even safe and effective for human use too. Neem contains NO synthetic pesticides and chemicals. Using it on your pet will provide them with even more protection.

Heartworm Prevention Tips:

• Don't leave your Schnauzer outside during the hours mosquito activity is at the highest (~ dawn and dusk hours ).
• Make sure there is no standing water in your yard. Mosquitoes need stagnant water to reproduce. Empty water pails, and change the water in kiddie pools, bird baths and the like, every 4 to 5 days.
  
• Reduce lights at night since bugs are attracted to the light.
  
• Use outdoor repellents, citronella candles and bug zappers.

Although some areas are at higher risk than others,heartworm infection has been found in dogs throughout all of the United States. Dogs of any age, breed, sex, or living environment are susceptible to heartworm infection.

Ask your veterinarian about heartworm preventative treatment for your Schnauzer. Don't wait. Do it today!

There are plenty of economical monthly preventative treatments options available (both oral treatments and topical treatments) such as Heartgard or Interceptor. These medications help to prevent the microfilariae (larvae) from developing into adult heartworms, thus preventing your Schnauzer from heartworm disease.

Heartworm Monthly Preventatives
Revolution	Iverhart Max
Heartgard	Advantage

HEARTWORM PET MEDICATION

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