Over 97% of dogs that come into our rescue program test positive for heartworms. Heartworms are one of the most common parasites in dogs and are almost 100% preventable. Just one bite from a mosquito infected with the heartworm larvae can give your dog heartworm disease. The heartworm larvae deposited by the feeding mosquito eventually migrate to the chambers of the heart or into the vessels of the lungs. Once in the heart, the worms can affect blood flow throughout the body. Heartworms look like spaghetti and can grow to 16 inches in length and there can be as many as 250 heartworms in a dog’s vital organs. Your dog may have no symptoms until heartworms are well-established.
The safest way to treat heartworms includes an extensive pre-treatment workup, including X-rays, blood work, and all the tests needed to establish how serious the infection is. Then the dog is given the injections. Treatment may be administered on an outpatient basis, but hospitalization is usually recommended. When the dog is sent home, exercise should be limited to leash walking and crate rest is recommended for the duration of the recovery period, which can last from one to two months. With all the prep work, it can run up to $1,000! It should also be noted that the treatment is very very hard on your dog.
It is difficult, especially for your dog, to treat heartworms once established. It is much easier and less expensive to prevent heartworms than to treat them. A great dane can be protected for less than $10 a month! That is less than most spend on soda or fancy coffee!
Ask your veterinarian about heartworm prevention. Preventive treatment should begin at 6 or 8 weeks of age in puppies and after tests have been conducted in older dogs to determine if your dog has already been infected. If your dog does have heartworms, your veterinarian can advise you about treatment options.
Great Dane Rescue of North Texas spends thousands of dollars each year treating heartworms and administering prevention to our fosters. Please consider donating today to help us save another dane from Heartworms.
Talking about mosquito, the
Talking about mosquito, the metropolitan blight referred to as Asian Tiger mosquito has invaded United States cities. The Wall Street Journal reports that species Aedes albopictus, which is recognized for its black-and-white striped physique, is as new to the U.S. as is it is “vicious” and hard to kill. The pest feasts in the daytime, a scarcity among mosquitoes. It also can distribute dengue fever. Here’s a proof: Urban bloodletting: Beware the Asian Tiger mosquito.