Mosquitoes are not just a human pest but just one bite can infect your dog or cat with deadly heartworms. Most people think of intestinal parasites when they think of worms and their pets. But what do they look like? Here is a video from Dr. Neeman at Kindness Small Animal Hospital who is showing us what beginning stages of heart worm looks like from a blood sample of a dog. Please dont forget to give your dog monthly heart worm preventative. This disease, like West Nile Virus, is also spread by mosquitos and it only takes one bite to infect a dog with deadly disease http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=511650238860540 .
Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. The heartworm is a type of filaria, a small thread-like worm, that causes filariasis. Wikipedia A heartworm is a parasitic worm (Dirofilaria immitis) that lives in the heart and pulmonary arteries of an infected animal. The worms travel through the bloodstream—harming arteries and vital organs as they go—ultimately completing their journey to the vessels of the lung and the heart chamber about six months after the initial infection. Several hundred worms can live in one dog for five to seven years. Heartworm disease is serious, and can be fatal. The best defense against heartworms is prevention. If you live in an area that has heartworm, a once a month chewable tablet will protect your pet from heartworm and other parasites. Please see your veterinarian to discuss what heartworm preventive is best for your pet.