We saw what fleas are all about and how you can manage them better. Now, we shall touch on a more serious problem that some dogs go through such as heartworms.

Unlike many other internal parasites, heartworm is the most life-threatening endoparasites plaguing pets today. Fortunately it does not affect man as we are not the correct target host

Heartworm eggs when ingested migrate through the wall of the intestines into the heart chamber where it causes heartwom disease. The commonality of heartworm disease can be associated to its mosquito transmission.

What is heartworm disease?

Heartworms are large worms and can completely block the heart. When a badly infested dog is exercised, it may show shortness of breath, coughing, and lack of stamina, and it may be easily tired. Sudden death can result. Every dog should have a yearly check for heartworms. If found free of them, it can be put on an oral heartwork preventive. This is given throughout the year either in injection form annually or in monthly oral dosages.

The patient often deteriorates quickly only at a later stage of infestation, which makes treatment difficult and less effective.

Heartworms can be hazardous to your pet's health. This is why its important to take your dog for his bi-annual check ups to prevent heartworms and take care of it before hand.

Signs of Heartworm disease

When heartworms are not detected in its early stage, they may even cause death to your dog. The problem is most owners do not realize their pet has a problem until the disease is well advanced. It is only in the later stages, when the disease is difficult to treat, that dogs show the typical signs of advanced heartworm disease. Does your pet show these signs?

• chronic cough
• listlessness
• laboured breathing
• fatigue
• weight loss

Wherever there are mosquitoes you can usually find heartworm disease. Mosquitoes act as a host for heartworm larvae and transfer the disease from dog to dog when they bite an infected dog and later transfer the worm larvae to other dogs they bite.

However, with a proper diagnostic plan such as knowing the history of the dog and a thorough physical examination, such as blood tests, heartworms can be treated successfully by your veterinarian.

Depending on the age of your dog and its previous heartworm history, your vet may have tested your dog for presence of heartworm infection, even though no obvious signs of the disease are present. A quick and simple blood test will give you an answer. Speak to your veterinarian about treatment and prevention of heartworms.

Most owners do not realize their pet has a problem until the disease is well advanced and is difficult to treat. It is therefore, necessary for all pets to be screened for heartworms at least once and whenever suspicion arises by a veterinary check-up.