A diagnosis of heartworm disease is obtained with a blood antigen test known as an occult heartworm test. A small blood sample is removed from your dog, mixed with a solution, and placed into a test device. Within minutes, the test will show a positive or negative result for the presence of antibodies relating to a heartworm infection.
Heartworm Pills for Dogs
Treatment of heartworm disease is difficult and more often than not, complications arise, such as heart failure and pulmonary embolism. Two injections, given twenty four hours apart, are used to treat dogs suffering from heartworms. While the treatment is very effective, the potential for death of the patient is pretty high.
Heartworm disease can be prevented by the judicious use of oral ivermectin once monthly. These treatments, commonly known as heartworm pills, when used as directed, are 99.9% effective in preventing dogs from contracting heartworm disease by killing the larvae before they have the opportunity to reach the heart. The regular use of approved heartworm medicine for dogs is the only known way to prevent heartworm disease.
Heartworm pills normally contain a combination of invermetin to prevent heartworm infections, and pyrantel to control and eliminate other internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. This is all accomplished in an easy, monthly dosing schedule. Popular brands of heartworm medications include Heartgard Plus for Dogs and Interceptor for Dogs.
What Is Heartworm?
Heartworms are roundworm parasites that are transmitted from host to host by the bite of mosquitoes. Although the primary and most common hosts of heartworms are canines, heartworms have been found in almost every other mammal, including man. Heartworms are named due to the adult reproductive stage of the worm’s life being lived in the right ventricle of the host’s heart. These parasites have been known to live for many years, causing serious disease and ultimately death. Heartworms were once thought to be confined to the Southern United States, but have been found in every U.S. state except Alaska, and in the warmer regions of Canada. Generally, the highest concentrations of infection are located within 150 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, where mild winters and wet conditions are prime for breeding mosquitoes.
Generally speaking, a dog will not become symptomatic of infection for up to six months after being infected unless, on rare occasion, the larvae end up in locations other than the heart. These locations may include the brain, legs or eyes. In these cases, blindness, seizures or lameness may occur. Otherwise, a dog will primarily remain symptom free. Dogs will begin exhibiting symptoms of infection as the heartworm load increases. Symptoms usually include coughing and intolerance to exercise, progressing to weight loss. Coughing up blood and congestive heart failure are also common.
So to circumvent this terrible disease and keep your pet healthy and happy, speak to your veterinarian about monthly heartworm pills. You will be very glad that you did!
