What is canine heartworm disease?

Canine heartworm disease is a blood parasitic disease caused by canine heartworms. Its main route of transmission is mosquito bites. Canine heartworm disease is a disease that seriously endangers the health of pet dogs. It can infect pet dogs of any age. Canine heartworm adult worms parasitize in the heart and cause heart damage. It can also affect the liver, kidneys, eyes and central nervous system. Nervous system, if left untreated, can lead to death.

What are the symptoms of canine heartworm disease?

There are no obvious symptoms in the early stages of canine heartworm disease, and it is easily ignored by dog ​​owners. However, after a dog is infected for a period of time, as the number of heartworms increases, the dog will gradually show symptoms such as coughing, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and exercise intolerance. At the same time, the dog will lose appetite and lose weight. If not treated in time, as the condition worsens, the dog will begin to develop symptoms such as anemia, ascites, pulmonary hydrops, cardiopulmonary failure, jaundice, liver and kidney failure, etc. By this time, it can basically be said that there is no way to save the day.

Who will be infected?

Canine heartworm disease was first discovered in the southern United States, but is now distributed all over the world. This parasite may appear wherever mosquitoes are present. You may know that heartworm disease affects dogs, but you may not know that it can be transmitted to humans and cats as well. In fact, any animal that can be bitten by a mosquito is at risk for infection by this parasite.

How to diagnose canine heartworm disease?

Heartworm disease is most commonly diagnosed by testing the blood for the presence of heartworms. Testing is available at many pet hospitals and results can be available within minutes. Depending on the test results and the animal's symptoms, a cardiac ultrasound may also be performed to determine the presence and severity of infection.

How to prevent?

Once the disease is infected, it is not easy to detect. By the time pet owners notice symptoms, it is basically already at an advanced stage. Treatment is expensive and time-consuming. The best "treatment" is prevention.
There are three ways to prevent canine heartworm disease: oral, topical, and intramuscular injection.
Oral administration: Take heartworm preventive medicine regularly every month. In addition to preventing heartworms, it also has a preventive effect on other parasites in the gastrointestinal tract.
External use: Drop preventive medicine on the skin of the nape of the neck (a place that is not easily licked by pets) every month. In addition to preventing heartworms, it can also repel fleas, ticks, etc.
Intramuscular injection: one injection after the dog is six months old, and then one injection regularly every year.
Conclusion: Canine heartworm is widely distributed around the world, and my country is also the hardest hit area. Surveys show that the infection rate of canine heartworm disease reaches more than 40%. The disease is not easy to treat and there is no mature vaccine available for prevention. , so preventing mosquito bites is the key to preventing the disease.