Valentine's Day is a holiday where we recognize the emotional aspects of the heart. While you are out running around buying cards, flowers and chocolates, ask yourself when was the last time your K9 partner received his/her Heartguard. Heartworms are very common in dogs throughout the U.S and are among the MOST DAMAGING parasites in dogs. However with routine care they are almost 100% preventable. Heartworms are transmitted by Mosquitoes and once mature they take up Residence inside your K9 Partner’s Heart and large blood vessels of the lungs.
Heartworms cause disease by clogging the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart.
They also interfere with the valve action in the heart, by clogging the main blood vessel, the blood supply to other organs of the body is reduced, particularly blood flow to the lungs, liver and kidneys, causing these organs to malfunction and eventually shut down. The American Heartworm Society recommends year round prevention. Although they are seeing a Universal growing trend that has cost many dogs their lives; people skipping heartworm preventative, because it’s cold out or it’s just not Mosquito season in their region. Many of the Heartworm preventives today also help protect against fleas, and intestinal parasite control for roundworms, whipworms and some even help protect against tapeworms.
Over 300 dogs die a year from undetected heartworms. Many Veterinarians devote a entire month to heartworm awareness and give discounts on screenings. The best way to screen for Heartworms is by having your Veterinarian administer a blood test on your K9 partner, once if not twice a year.
Clinical stage signs of Canine Heartworm Disease:
Early Infection- No abnormal clinical signs
Mild Disease- Cough
Moderate Disease- Cough, exercise intolerance, abnormal lung sounds.
Severe Disease- Cough, exercise intolerance, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), abnormal lung sounds, hepatomegaloy (enlargement of the liver), syncope (temporary loss of consciousness due to poor blood flow to the brain), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), abnormal heart sounds and death. Stop by your Vet's office schedule a Heartworm test and pick up some preventative for that Special K9 that lives depend on.
Heartworms cause disease by clogging the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart.They also interfere with the valve action in the heart, by clogging the main blood vessel, the blood supply to other organs of the body is reduced, particularly blood flow to the lungs, liver and kidneys, causing these organs to malfunction and eventually shut down. The American Heartworm Society recommends year round prevention. Although they are seeing a Universal growing trend that has cost many dogs their lives; people skipping heartworm preventative, because it’s cold out or it’s just not Mosquito season in their region. Many of the Heartworm preventives today also help protect against fleas, and intestinal parasite control for roundworms, whipworms and some even help protect against tapeworms.
Over 300 dogs die a year from undetected heartworms. Many Veterinarians devote a entire month to heartworm awareness and give discounts on screenings. The best way to screen for Heartworms is by having your Veterinarian administer a blood test on your K9 partner, once if not twice a year.
Clinical stage signs of Canine Heartworm Disease:
Early Infection- No abnormal clinical signs
Mild Disease- Cough
Moderate Disease- Cough, exercise intolerance, abnormal lung sounds.
Severe Disease- Cough, exercise intolerance, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), abnormal lung sounds, hepatomegaloy (enlargement of the liver), syncope (temporary loss of consciousness due to poor blood flow to the brain), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), abnormal heart sounds and death. Stop by your Vet's office schedule a Heartworm test and pick up some preventative for that Special K9 that lives depend on.
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