Newtown Veterinary Hospital, LLC

Heartworm Disease


 

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HEARTWORM DISEASE
     Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs. Adult heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs. They survive up to five years and, during this time, the female produces millions of young (microfilaria). These microfilaria live in the bloodstream, mainly in the small blood vessels. One dog may have as many as 300 worms.
  • Adult worms cause disease by clogging the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart. They interfere with the valve action in the heart. By clogging the main blood vessels, the blood supply to other organs of the body is reduced, particularly the lungs, liver and kidneys, leading to malfunction of these organs.
  • Microfilaria circulate throughout the body but remain primarily in the small blood vessels. Because they are as wide as the small vessels, they may block blood flow in these vessels, ultimately depriving body cells of the nutrients and oxygen needed to function properly.

HOW DO DOGS GET HEARTWORMS?
     Heartworm disease is spread by MOSQUITOES. As many as 30 species of mosquitoes can transmit heartworms. The female mosquito bites an infected dog and ingests the microfilaria. The microfilaria develop further for 10 to 30 days in the mosquito and then enter the mouth parts of the mosquito. (The microfilaria are now called infective larvae because at this stage of development, then will grow to adulthood when they enter the dog.) The mosquito bites the dog where the hair-coat is thinnest. However, having long hair does not prevent a dog from getting heartworms. When fully developed, the infective larvae enter the bloodstream and move to the heart and adjacent vessels, where they grow to maturity in two to three months and start reproducing, thereby completing the full life cycle.

SIGNS OF HEARTWORM DISEASE
  • Soft, dry, chronic cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Nervousness
  • Listlessness
  • Loss of stamina

**All of these signs are most noticeable following exercise, when some dogs may even faint.**

HOW CAN I PREVENT HEARTWORM DISEASE IN MY DOG?
     The only way to prevent heartworm disease is to have your dog on a heartworm prevention program. Heartworm pills (Interceptor, Sentinel or Heartgard) are given once monthly.

     Heartworm disease is a very serious problem. While in some cases the disease may be treated, there are other cases that the disease is fatal. Owners who think that their dog is not at risk are mistaken. Mosquitoes can be found everywhere, even inside houses. All dogs, whether they spend hours outside, minutes outside or do not go outside at all, are at risk of heartworm disease.
 
www.animalclinic/hrtworm.htm

last edited08/02/2007
 
 
Newtown Veterinary Hospital, LLC
671 Newtown-Yardley Road
Newtown, PA 18940
Phone (215) 968-3895
Fax (215) 579-2650
Monday-Friday 8AM-8PM
Saturday 8AM-4PM
 
 
Serving the needs of pet owners in Newtown, Yardley, Langhorne, Upper Makefield, Lower Makefield, Levittown, Bristol, Bensalem, Fairless Hills, Jamison, Southampton, Doylestown, New Hope, Bucks County, Richboro, Feasterville, Chalfont, Churchville, Warrington, Croydon, Ivyland, Easton, Fallsington, Buckingham, Morrisville, Trenton