Treat heartworm in Dogs ( Pet talk with Paul Shiel )

Heartworm is a disease predominantly found in dogs, however, it may also be present in cats and rarely in Humans.
The disease is caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria - immitis which is a worm that attempts to live in the lungs and hearts of dogs.
 It is a terminal disease and by that I mean that the animal infested will eventually die, unless specifically treated for the infection.
This disease is transmitted by mosquitoes , whom, then they bit their host they transfer the small larval stage of the heartworm which find their way into the bloodstream. After your dog has been bitten it takes about eight weeks for the larval stages to develop into adult worms which will then breed and produce more larvae, consequently the dog's condition simply worsens. Fortunately, heartworm can be prevented and even treated if your dog is already infected. Some of the common clinical signs are a cough, reduced exercise tolerance with progressive weight loss.
You should seek advice from a veterinarian, if your dog is not already on heartworm preventative medicine, and you suspect it may be infected. I t is very important to understand that the normal dog worming tablets taken approximately every three months for gastro-intestinal worms do not kill or affect heartworm at all. Remember, heartworm lives in the lungs and heart, not in the gut system. To check if your dog in infected, simply go to your vet to have a specific blood test done, which will detect if heartworm is presented.
If they are, then treatment is available to kill the existing adult and larval heartworm. Once this is achieved the dog can go onto the preventative treatment. Again it is very important to check your dog first, before going onto the preventive treatment because if you don't you risk killing your dog.The only safe time to start a dog on a heartworm prevention tablets is when it is eight weeks old. Anytime after that is a risk and the dog should be tested first. There are currently three available ways of heartworm treatment. They are: Dimmitrol tablets given daily Heartgurd 30, one tablet given every month.  Heartgurd 30+, which incorporates a gut worming program against roundworm and hookworm. 
 For further advice consult your local VET.

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