Heartworm Prevention....... how to protect your puppy!Heartworm prevention is something you simply can't ignore if you want to keep your puppy, or dog, happy and healthy!
Most dogs will have worms/parasites of one kind or another during their lifetime, and puppies are especially vulnerable to these annoying little critters. While fleas, roundworms, tapeworms and more can create problems, but they're generally not severe and are pretty easy to treat. Heartworms are quite different! Heartworm symptoms usually don't appear until your pup is very ill, and a heartworm infestation often kills the dog, and that's why heartworm prevention is the key to protecting your little Fido, and to keeping him happy and healthy. What exactly are heartworms anyway?
These nasty parasites are worms that can live, breed and grow in your pups' bloodstream. If left unchecked they're very likely to cause damage to the lungs, kidneys, liver and, of course, the heart. Death due to heart failure is the most common result of a heartworm infestation. Heartworm larvae are transmitted to your pup by mosquitoes. They aren't detectable in the bloodstream until they become mature adults, approximately 6 months after transmission. During these six months, your pup is unlikely to show any heartworm signs or appear ill in any way. The areas most affected by heartworm problems in the US are the warmer, central, southern states, where mosquitoes are most prevalent. If you live in a region where mosquitoes abound, heartworm prevention is a must during the warm weather/mosquito season. This can be 6 - 9 months of the year, or even all year round.
Heartworm SymptomsUnfortunately by the time symptoms of a heartworm infestation appear, a dog is usually pretty sick - so it's very important to act right away if you think your dog could be infected.Because heartworms invade the heart, they cause problems with blood circulation, either in the heart itself or in major/minor blood vessels in other organs such as the lungs. Heartworm Symptoms can include :
These symptoms can also be signs of other dog illnesses or diseases, so if you notice any of them, have your vet examine your pup or dog right away.
Heartworm PreventionBecause the heartworm has such a long life-cycle, and due to the fact that early heartworm symptoms are pretty much non-existent, heartworm prevention is absolutely critical to your pups' health and well-being.You should start your puppy on a heartworm preventative medication, such as HeartGard Plus for Dogs once he reaches 8 weeks of age. Many vets give a free sample of Heartgard for pups at their first puppy check up, after that it's up to you. These heartworm medicines need to be given once a month (without fail), during mosquito season... preferably starting one month before mosquitoes appear and ending one month after the season ends. If your pup is 6 - 7 months of age or older, and hasn't been on regular, monthly heartworm medicines, do not give him any heartworm preventative without having your veterinarian run some tests first. This is because if he already has an infestation, the effect of the heartworm medication could cause him severe problems, or even his death. If you've even missed one dose of Heartgard (or whatever medicine you've chosen), during mosquito season, have your pup tested for heartworms before re-starting the medication.
Heartworm MedicationsThe most popular and commonly used medications for heartworm prevention are very safe. Bad reactions are rare when the heartworm medicines are given in the recommended, prescribed dosages.However, some breeds are extra-sensitive to Ivomectin (the active ingredient in Heartgard) and Heartgard adverse reactions are more likely in dogs that belong to the 'Collie' family. This category includes breeds such as:
These dogs are more likely to suffer a heartgard adverse reaction than most due to a breed-specific sensitivity to Ivomectin. If your pup is a collie, sheepdog or a mix that includes either of these, you'd probably be better to use one of the other heartworm prevention medicines such as Interceptor, Revolution or Sentinel. But do check with your own veterinarian before you make any decision, and follow his advice, that's very important! Symptoms of a bad reaction to Ivomectin may include dilated pupils, tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of co-ordination, collapse. Treatment of Heartworm InfestationHeartworm prevention is far preferable to the cure, because treatment for a heartworm infestation is long, difficult, dangerous (to your dog) and expensive.
A dog with heartworm disease needs to be carefully examined by a vet to make sure his organs are healthy enough to withstand the treatment/drugs. As well as the administration of powerful drugs to kill the heartworms, a sick dog also needs complete rest and IV fluids, which means an extended stay at the animal hospital. Once he gets home, he's going to need a lot more rest too, and this can be quite tricky to manage. In severe cases, heart surgery may be needed. This involves the veterinarian surgically removing the worms from a dogs' heart. Of course, this is as dangerous and as costly as it sounds! But it's so easy to prevent problems in the first place that your pup should never have to worry. Just give him a monthly, chewable, beef-flavored HeartGard Plus for Dogs tablet and he won't end up being a statistic. ...and soAs we mentioned at the beginning of this article, heartworm symptoms are unlikely to be seen until your pup/dog is already very sick. To eliminate the possibility of your dog being infected by heartworms, heartworm prevention is the way to go!So start your puppy on heartworm medicine just as soon as it's necessary - and be vigilant about maintaining the program throughout his lifetime. That way, your precious furbaby will be lucky enough to live a heartworm-free life!
Puppy Health
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