noun
definition
A parasitic organism that afflicts dogs, the roundworm Dirofilaria immitis.
definition
The condition caused by this organism.
Examples of heartworm in a Sentence
Information on feline and canine heartworm is provided for both veterinarians and pet owners.
The coughing could also be a sign of a feline heartworm infection.
Ivermectin is a similar medication which treats mange, ear mites and heartworm prevention.
You also need to get your dog started on heartworm and flea/tick preventatives right away.
Keep your dog safe from this disease by having it tested annually and kept on a monthly heartworm preventative pill.
For humans, malaria is the principle threat, but to dogs, it's heartworm.
Dog owners should be aware of what heartworm is, how it is transmitted, and what treatment and preventative measures are available to protect their dogs' health.
Heartworm, or dirofilaria immitis, is an actual worm that resides in a dog's heart.
Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes and fleas in tropical and semi-tropical climates such as the southern United States, but occurrences are not limited to those areas.
Heartworm symptoms are not typically noticeable until adult worms begin to clog the animal's circulatory system, which may be several months after the initial infection.
The best cure for heartworm is its prevention, sparing the dog a prolonged ordeal.
The preventative drugs can be exceedingly dangerous for animals already infected with heartworm, and dog owners should always have their pets tested before beginning a preventative program.
Spread through mosquito and flea bites, heartworm is a parasitic infection that disrupts an animal's circulatory system, eventually leading to life-threatening complications.
Heartworm prevention is another important part of any dog health care regimen.
If left untreated, the results are fatal.Prevention is by far the best method for combatting heartworm.
It could also be the effects of an advanced case of heartworm.
We get many heartworm questions at the Ask the Dog Expert.
I skipped one month on his heartworm pill.
The vet will listen to your dog's chest, take a blood sample to check for heartworms and provide you with more heartworm preventative as soon as heartworms have been ruled out.
Do you keep your dog on heartworm preventative?
Giving your dog preventative heartworm medication is an important part of ensuring it lives a long, healthy life.
A potentially fatal disease, heartworm is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
The mosquito ingests the larva of the worms that cause heartworm, known as microfilariae, when it bites an infected animal.
As the worms multiply, they affect and clog the chambers of the right side of the heart, the arteries of the lungs, and the veins entering the heart and the liver, causing the later stages of heartworm symptoms to occur.
Giving your dog preventative medication for heartworm eliminates the danger of your canine companion falling prey to the debilitating parasites that cause heartworm disease.
Many of the preventative medications for heartworm are available only with a prescription from a veterinarian.
There are several different types of preventative medication for heartworm, each with a different method of administering the drug.
Monthly preventative heartworm medication kills the larva that entered into the dog's body over the past 30 to 45 days.
If you choose this method of heartworm protection, it is very important that the daily or monthly schedule be followed exactly.
Following is a partial list of these medications available to prevent heartworm in dogs.
Topical heartworm products are easily applied to the back of the dog's neck.
Some canine caretakers prefer their dog receives an injectable preventative heartworm medication.
The injection, which contains the drug moxidectin, can only be administered by a veterinarian and heartworm protection lasts for six months.
For those dog caretakers that are concerned with administering drugs to their pets, there are several natural heartworm preventative products on the market.
These alternative treatments for heartworm prevention include Petalive Parasite Dr. and Heartworm Free.
Prescription medications for heartworm, as well as over the counter products, are available online from a variety of retailers.
After years without veterinary care, Cindy had heartworm, a weak heart and lost most of her teeth.
Heartworm prevention plays an important role in keeping your dog healthy.
According to the Heartworm Society, while heartworms are typically associated with dogs, they can actually infect more than 30 other species of animals including cats, ferrets, foxes and even humans.
The simplest answer is heartworm prevention.
Since dog heartworm symptoms can be difficult and sometimes nearly impossible to detect until the dog is seriously infected, your best defense against the risk of heartworms is to take preventative action.
In fact, heartworm treatment typically lasts several months and can involve several steps, including confining your dog to limit his activity level.
To avoid the heartbreak of watching your beloved pet suffer and to keep him as healthy as possible, it's important to start him on heartworm prevention as soon as your veterinarian suggests you should do so.
Topicals - The most common topical heartworm preventative medication is Selamectin, which is used to protect your pet from heartworms as well as fleas and ticks.
Which form of heartworm medication is best for your dog?
Herbal treatments, such as HeartWorm Free and PetAlive Parasite Dr., are said to not only prevent against heartworms but also improve an animal's overall health.
Interceptor heartworm medication, or as it is commercially known, Interceptor® Flavor Tabs, is a once a month heartworm preventative medication for dogs.
Interceptor heartworm medication is a controlled medical substance and is obtainable only with a veterinarian's prescription.
Heartworm is a disease that can kill if left undiagnosed and untreated.
There is no dog breed immune from heartworm.