Signs That Your Dog May Have Heartworms

Heartworm disease is common in dogs. The parasite that causes this disease can cause extensive health issues to your pet. In some serious cases, infected dogs end up dying. It is vital that pets, especially dogs, should be on preventive medication against heartworms. Dog owners are encouraged to take their furry friends for heartworm testing after every 12 months. Early detection drastically raises your dog’s chances of survival.

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Has Heartworms?

Heartworms can go undetected for months. Unless your dog gets tested early, getting treatment after that can be expensive and a difficult process for the dog. Some symptoms may take time to become obvious or the pet owner may mistake some signs as symptoms for another illness. For this reason, unfortunately, most dog owners find out about heartworm disease when it is too late to seek treatment.

However, some common signs and symptoms may suggest that your pet has heartworms. Some of these include:

In the early stages of infection, affected dogs tend to cough mildly at first. This usually happens when the heartworms migrate to the lungs and heart, causing congestion.
As the cough continues to get worse, you will notice that your pet no longer has the motivation to engage in physical activities like playing and exercising. He will lie down most of the day and easily go out of breath after exercising.
In the latter stages of the infection, your pet will lose his appetite and experience weight loss.
Fainting or collapsing is the last sign of the infection. At this stage, there is very little that can be done to save the dog.

Other signs that your dog may have heartworm include seizures, lameness, and blindness. This usually happens when the heartworms migrate to other parts of the body, such as the brain, affecting the dog’s mobility.

When You Should Test Your Dogs for Heartworms

Testing dogs for heartworms should be done routinely. For healthy dogs, testing should be done after every 12 months. If you haven’t started preventive treatment for your dog, here is a guideline on the right timing for heartworm dog tests.

Normally, it takes six months for a dog to test positive for heartworms. This means you can start taking your six months old puppies for preventative vet visits. However, they do not need to undergo the testing. After the first visit, you are required to take your puppies for heartworm testing after another six months and then once a year after that.

Puppies over the age of six months need to be tested for heartworms before they can begin their preventive treatment. They should go back for testing after six months before they can be allowed to continue with the year-round protection regimen. The same guideline is also applied to dogs that have missed some doses in their preventive treatment.

Heartworm Treatment

When detected at its early stages, dogs with heartworm disease can come to a full recovery. Veterinarians use several medications to get rid of the parasites before the pet can fully recover. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove dislodged heartworms from the lungs and heart.

To prevent your pet from going through all these, do not disregard any of the above symptoms and seek help immediately if you suspect a heartworm infection. Remember, prevention is the best treatment option for heartworms.

To know more about heartworms, visit Brekke Veterinary Clinic at our office in Castle Rock, Colorado. You can also call us at (303) 474- 4260 to book an appointment today.