Heartworms are prevalent across all 50 states of the USA and the cases of heartworm disease in dogs are increasing rapidly year after year. Each year, pet parents spend millions of dollars on their pets’ heartworm treatment. Plus, this parasitic disease leaves an irreversible impact on canines’ health. Needless to say, heartworm disease is indeed one of the most serious health concerns for both dogs and their guardians.
So, what can you do to protect your furry friend from this potentially fatal disease? The answer is here. Read on to know all about heartworm disease in dogs, how it can be treated and how to prevent this deadly parasitic infection.
Heartworm disease
Heartworm disease is caused by foot-long, spaghetti-shaped worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of the infected animals. It can cause severe lung disease, damage other body organs, and can lead to heart failure. Though dogs are the natural hosts, heartworms can also live inside cats, ferrets, and other mammals like foxes, coyotes, etc.
How do heartworms work in dogs?
A heartworm’s lifecycle starts with a mosquito bite. A mosquito bites a heartworm-infected animal and ingests microscopic baby worms called microfilaria. These baby worms develop and reach the ‘infective stage’ inside the mosquito. And when this infected mosquito bites another dog, the infective larvae enter the new host’s body. They mature and reach adulthood in around 6 months, then adult worms mate and produce offspring. When left untreated, heartworm numbers increase progressively and can reach several hundred at a time. Inside the dog, these heartworms disturb the normal blood flow and heart function, causing lung disease, Congestive Heart Failure and damage to other organs as a result.
Keep Reading : The Phases of Heartworm Disease in Pets and How to Prevent It
Heartworm disease treatment
Once diagnosed, heartworm disease needs to be treated as early as possible. The veterinarian prepares a treatment plan and conducts the treatment in several steps starting from stabilizing the infected dog’s condition, to administering the treatment and then evaluating the treatment response. The treatment kills most of the adult heartworms within one to three months. In severe cases where the worms are hindering the smooth flow of blood, surgical removal of adult worms may also be needed.
Drawbacks of heartworm disease treatment
Though the treatment of heartworm disease is possible, it comes with its own set of difficulties including:
- Dogs receiving the treatment need to rest for at least six months. It becomes difficult to restrict the physical activities of dogs, especially the ones with active lifestyles, when they are not actually feeling sick.
- The treatments can kill adult heartworms, but cannot reverse the damage they have already caused to the dog’s health. The treatment is risky and has various side effects. The drug used for heartworm treatment (melarsomine) can cause swelling at the site of injection, respiratory distress, worsening cough, etc.
- The complete heartworm treatment requires spending on laboratory testing, X-rays, antibiotics, and other veterinary care. Besides, dogs need at least two rounds of treatment. Include all, and the treatment becomes expensive for pet parents. The average cost of heartworm treatment for dogs ranges from $500 to $6000 based on the dog’s size, disease stage, and aggregate vet bills.
Heartworm prevention is the best option
Considering the difficulties of heartworm treatment, the best way to save your dog and you from the trouble is preventing the disease. Heartworm prevention costs around 10 times less than treatment and is effective when administered as per the schedule, all year round.
Heartworm preventives come in both oral (chewables/tablets) and topical application forms, and the majority of treatments protect dogs for 30 days. Some of the most popular and vet-trusted heartworm preventives include:
- Heartgard Plus : A real-beef flavored chew that prevents heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae (Dirofilaria immitis) for a month after infection. It also treats and controls roundworms and hookworms in dogs.
- Advantage Multi : A once-a-month topical solution that prevents heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis and is indicated for the treatment of Dirofilaria immitis circulating microfilariae in heartworm-positive dogs. This multi-parasiticide also kills adult fleas, treats flea infestations, and treats and controls sarcoptic mange, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.
- Simparica Trio : A flavored chewable tablet that prevents heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis in dogs. This treatment also treats and controls roundworm and hookworm infections, kills adult fleas, treats and prevents flea infestations, and treats and controls tick infestations with lone star ticks, Gulf Coast ticks, American dog ticks, brown dog ticks, and Asian longhorned ticks for one month.
It is advisable, however, to start with your dog’s heartworm prevention after consulting a veterinarian to get the best results.
In the end
Heartworm disease in dogs is a real threat to their overall health and lives in severe conditions. Heartworm treatment, though possible, is not a viable option as it is time-consuming, physically straining for dogs, and expensive for pet parents. Instead, regular administration of heartworm preventives helps provide dogs with year-round heartworm protection. And, preventives are also comparatively less expensive. Visit BudgetVetCare to get the best options for your furry companion’s heartworm protection at the most affordable rates.