I have a friend whose dog was just diagnosed with heartworm. I always thought there was no cure for heartworms. I thought when your canine got them they had to be put to sleep. I found out I was wrong.
Let me start off by saying that Dirofilaria immitis is commonly known as heartworm. In this article I shall refer to Dirofilaria immitis as heartworm. It can be found in felines as well as canines. It is more prevalent in canines.
If you live in an area where heartworm is prevalent, you should consider treating your canine or feline with preventable medication.This medication is best supplied by a veterinarian. You may also obtain the chewable heartworm tablet from a company that handles pet supplies.You will need to know the weight of your animal to obtain the correct dosage for the chewable tablet. There are numerous manufacturers of these chewable preventative tablets such as Heart Guard plus, Evolution, Interceptor Plus Chew ables or Advantage.
Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites an infected animal then bites another animal the disease is spread to the other animal. Within 70 to 90 days the microfilarae make it to the tissue of the heart where they reproduce. In order to reproduce, they need both male and female worms. They can live for several years. It only takes six to seven months after the mosquito bite for this to happen.
Some of the signs to look for in your animal to indicate they have heartworms are, coughing, low tolerance for exercising, weight loss, nose bleeds, labored or rapid breathing,and fluid retention or accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.
Your pet should have blood tests to positively detect whether or not the diagnosis is heartworm. Remember it is easier to prevent this disease than to cure it. The blood test should be performed before starting the preventative medication. A yearly test is also recommended during your pets annual exam.
Make sure your pets environment is free of mosquito producing factors. Empty all containers that collect standing water and get rid of old tires. Check especially after a rain.
Repair torn screens so mosquitoes do not get into your house. Yes, dogs that stay inside can also get heartworm also. Use citronella candles when sitting outside with your pets. Citronella will help prevent the mosquitoes from coming around.
Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for cats. The treatment for dogs is very expensive and timely. It takes weeks to treat and recover. Heartworms can live five to seven years in dogs. Follow up tests after treatment for a dog diagnosed is very important to make sure there is no recurrence.
So far my friends dog is responding well to the treatment. He goes to his vetenarian weekly.
Please have your dogs and cats tested for heartworms during the annual exam It is especially important if you live in an area where heartworm is prevalent. The best test is a blood test. It is important to get them tested before being treated for the disease.
It is less expensive to treat your animal for heartrorm than to cure them. The chewable tablets should be given monthly and year round.
Every day I hope my friends dog gets better
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