Sun Prairie Petcare Centre

Heartworm

Age . . .
It may seem strange, but the older your dog gets, the more you have to think of him or her as you would a puppy! It's not that she's going to start shredding your shoes and bounding around the house, but rather, just as a puppy requires special care for optimal growth, your aging dog has her own set of needs, dietary requirements, and diseases.

How Old is Old?
The onset of old age can occur between 5 and 10 years for most dogs, depending on heredity. If your pet is a small breed, she probably won't show signs of aging until she's at least 9. Medium-sized breeds enter their geriatric years around age 7 or 8, while giant breeds (St. Bernard and Great Danes) as early as age 5.

How Old Is Your Dog?

Dogs	Humans
8 months	13 years
1 year	16 years
2 years	24 years
3 years	28 years
5 years	36 years
7 years	44 years
9 years	52 years
11 years	60 years
13 years	68 years
15 years	76 years

What are Heartworms?

Heartworms are roundworms that, as the name suggests, live in the heart and also the lungs of mammals. They begin here as a form of microfilaria which once in the circulatory system of the mammal are spread to others by mosquitoes.

How do I know if my pet has Heartworms?

Dogs with heartworms will typically have a cough that is especially noted after exercise. They may also become listless, lose weight and cough up phlegm that may contain blood. Cats with heartworms may have asthma-like symptoms. Symptoms alone, however, are not enough to determine whether you pet is infected or not. If heartworm is suspected, your veterinarian will draw a blood sample from your pet and run one or two tests to establish whether this is the case or not.


How are Heartworms prevented?

Your veterinarian can prescribe a preventive designed specifically for the weight of your animal. Depending on the part of the country in which you live, your veterinarian may prescribe year round preventive or may recommend preventive only between the first thaw and the last freeze of the year. Dogs and cats on a preventive should be tested annually. You can minimize mosquito populations by ensuring your property is well drained and cleared of stagnant water.

How is Heartworm infection treated?

after the dog is diagnosed as heartworm positive, your veterinarian will typically take a chest x-ray to determine the severity of the infection. The severity will determine the course treatment. Your dog will then be admitted into the hospital to have the heartworm treatment medication administered. If after 4 months an antigen test is negative, your dog is assumed to be free of worms. Dogs that are infected can be safely put on a preventive to prevent additional infection.

Currently, there is not an approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats. They are typically treated symptomatically and put on preventive to prevent additional infections.