Heartworm Disease in Dogs

While our greatest wish is for our furry friends to always be healthy, accepting that they can also experience various health problems is very important in order to detect their illnesses early and to ensure that they start treatment. Although heartworm disease in dogs is a type of health problem that can be seen in many living beings, the course and treatment of the disease differ specifically in dogs. In this article, you can find what you need to know about heartworm disease in dogs.

What is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal illness in animals. As the name suggests, this disease is caused by worms living in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Heartworm disease can cause serious lung diseases and heart failure, as well as damage to other organs in the body. Heartworms are found in cats, dogs, and ferrets. They can also be found in wild wolves, jackals, foxes, sea lions, and very rarely in humans. Heartworm disease progresses quite differently in cats and dogs. In cats, the worms do not survive to adulthood, while the situation is very different in dogs.

How Does Heartworm Affect Dogs?

Dogs serve as natural hosts for heartworms. This means that heartworms can grow, mate, and reproduce in the bodies of dogs. If left untreated, the worm population can increase. A sick dog can have hundreds of heartworms. In dogs, dirofilaria immitis can cause permanent heart, lung, and vascular diseases. Even after treatment, it takes a long time for the dog's health and quality of life to return to normal. Therefore, the best option is preventive action. However, once the parasite is transmitted, it is extremely important to treat it without delay and eliminate the condition in the early stages.

How is Heartworm Transmitted?

Mosquitoes play a vital role in the spread of heartworm. The worms in an infected dog release microscopic baby worms called Microfilaria into the blood. When a mosquito bites, it ingests these baby worms and allows them to develop and grow. Within 10-14 days, these worm larvae reach the infection level. When the mosquito carrying the worms bites another dog, it releases the larvae. It takes approximately 6 months for the worms to become adults after being bitten. After becoming adults, the worms can live for 5-7 years in a dog's body and 2-3 years in a cat's body. Due to their long life cycle, there is an incredible increase in the number of infected dogs every mosquito season.

What are the Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in Dogs?

In the early stages of the disease, few symptoms are observed. However, as the infection period increases, new symptoms also appear. The most common symptoms of heartworm disease in dogs include:

• Moderate persistent cough,
• Lack of interest in physical activity,
• Excessive fatigue after physical activity,
• Loss of appetite,
• Weight loss.

In the advanced stages of the disease, heart failure or abdominal distension due to excessive fluid accumulation in the abdominal area may occur. In addition, sudden blockages in the blood vessels can be seen in dogs with a large number of heartworms. Sudden blockages can lead to fatal cardiovascular collapse. This condition is called kava syndrome. Symptoms of kava syndrome in dogs include shortness of breath, pale lips, and dark red or brown urine. Very few dogs survive if the blockage is not surgically removed. Intervention must be carried out very quickly when a blockage occurs. What are the Risk Factors for Heartworm Disease? Even if the factors that can cause heartworm are not seen in your area, this does not change the fact that your dog is at risk. Heartworm diseases can be seen in different regions every year. Especially in windy weather, mosquitoes can travel very long distances, significantly increasing the risk of the spread of this disease. Heartworm infections can be seen in almost every region, and it is nearly impossible to predict the risk factors. Because of mosquitoes, even dogs that rarely go outside can be in the risk group. Therefore, it is recommended to have a heartworm test every 12 months and to administer heartworm preventative medication every 12 months. Heartworm medication is quite effective, but dogs can still get infected. Even a missed dose can leave the dog vulnerable.

What are the Risk Factors for Heartworm Disease?

Even if the factors that can cause heartworm are not seen in your area, this does not change the fact that your dog is at risk. Heartworm cases can occur in different regions every year. Especially in windy weather, mosquitoes can travel very long distances, significantly increasing the risk of this disease spreading. Heartworm infections can occur in almost every region, and predicting risk factors is nearly impossible. Because it involves mosquitoes, even dogs that rarely go outside can be at risk. Therefore, it is recommended to have a heartworm test every 12 months and to administer heartworm preventative medication every 12 months. Heartworm medication is quite effective, but dogs can still get infected. Even a missed dose can leave a dog unprotected.

What You Need to Know About Heartworm Testing in Dogs

Heartworm disease is a very serious and rapidly spreading illness. The earlier it is detected, the higher the chances of survival for dogs. Very few cats or dogs with heartworm show symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, regular testing is recommended. During the test, a small amount of blood is taken and checked for the presence of heartworm proteins in the blood. Some veterinarians perform this test in their own practices, while others send the test samples to laboratories for evaluation. If the test is positive, additional tests are performed.

When Should Heartworm Tests Be Done in Dogs?

The testing process for heartworm differs in cats and dogs. All dogs must be tested at least once a year. Preventive treatment can be given to puppies before they are 7 months old without testing. It can take up to 6 months for a dog to test positive after contracting the infection. Therefore, testing again 6 months after the first visit ensures that the dog does not have heartworm. In adult dogs over 7 months old, preventive treatment can be applied after testing. It is recommended that adult dogs also be tested once immediately 6 months after the initial testing schedule and then have regular blood tests every year thereafter. Testing should also be done before vaccinations if the vaccination schedule is disrupted.

What to Do When a Heartworm Test is Positive

Although no one wants to hear that their dog has heartworm, many dogs diagnosed with heartworm successfully overcome this condition. The primary goal of treatment is to stabilize the symptoms. Subsequently, treatment aims to kill both adult and larval heartworms while minimizing side effects. When the initial antigen test is positive, a secondary test is performed for confirmation. Heartworm treatment is complex and expensive, so it's essential to confirm the infection. Immediately after confirmation, the first step is to restrict activity. This is necessary, even if it's difficult for dogs who enjoy running and playing, as excessive activity increases the damage heartworms cause to the heart. Before starting heartworm treatment, the infected dog's condition must be stabilized. In dogs with severe heartworm or other underlying conditions, this process can take several months. Afterward, a treatment plan is developed. In cases with no symptoms or very few symptoms such as coughing, the chances of successful treatment are very high. Successful results can also be achieved in more severe cases, but more serious complications may occur. There is no correlation between the severity of the illness and the severity of symptoms; a very ill dog may still exhibit mild symptoms. Six months after the completion of treatment, a test is performed to ensure that all heartworms have been eliminated. Afterwards, preventive treatments are applied for a year to ensure that the infection does not recur.

Before starting heartworm treatment, the infected dog's condition must be stabilized. In dogs with severe heartworm or other illnesses, this process can take several months. Afterwards, a treatment plan is developed. In cases showing no symptoms or only very mild symptoms such as coughing, the chances of successful treatment are very high. Successful results can also be obtained in more serious cases, but more severe complications may also occur. There is no correlation between the severity of the illness and the severity of the symptoms. That is, a very sick dog may have mild symptoms. Six months after the completion of treatment, a test is performed to ensure that all heartworms have been eliminated. Afterwards, preventive treatments are applied for a year to ensure that the infection does not recur. Symptoms may include: