Treating Heartworm Symptoms In Dogs
Heartworm larvae is carried by mosquitoes and transmitted to dogs when they bite them. In almost every area in the United States there are periods during the year that mosquitoes are present. If a dog has not been pre-treated to protect them from being infested they can easily be infected with the larvae and for several months or years there may be no symptoms of infestation. By the time that heartworm symptoms in dogs becomes visible it has become a serious condition for the pet.
Protecting a pet from heartworm infestation is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. There are many treatments available from the vet that can be applied to protect a pet. In addition, there are injections that can be given when a dog has it’s yearly health check that will protect it from infestation.
The types of medications that are available to figure heartworm infestation vary. Some of the medications can be given as an injection and are needed only once a year. Other treatments require regular application of creams or ointments. In some cases dogs are given pills to take that will kill that heartworm larvae and protect the animal from infestation.
Mosquitoes exist and multiply in any area that has standing water or new construction. There are many cases where mosquitoes will inhabit an area near a pool in a home’s yard. It is very hard to protect a pet from playing in a field or yard where there may be standing water and this water can be a breeding ground for infected mosquitoes.
While the cost of pre-treating a pet for heartworms is very affordable, the treatment for a pet that is showing symptoms of heartworms can be expensive and take a long time to be effective. After an infestation a dog may have heartworms for several years before showing visible signs of the infestation. By this time the heartworms have infected most of the organs of the body and have moved into the heart.
When the heartworms begin to clog the heart of a dog it will often begin to have severe coughing spells. In most cases the coughing will lead to a gasping for air and the dog may lose consciousness.
The shortness of breath that a pet exhibits is the result of heartworms in the lungs. The dog will often gradually be unable to breathe as the heartworms continue to multiply in the lungs. They may move their head in different directions trying to find a position that will allow them to get an adequate amount of oxygen.
As the organs and brain are deprived of necessary blood and oxygen a pet will begin to lose consciousness often. They will often seem very tired and will be unable to do many of the activities that they once enjoyed. In most cases they will need the assistance of their owner to make a jump or climb stairs.
Heartworm symptoms in dogs that has become visible and noticeable to the owner is an indication that they have a severe infestation. Along with the heartworm infestation most pets also have other infections that result from the inability of their bodies to fight off infection. The treatment for these symptoms involves several trips to the vet for medication and treatment. Following treatment a dog must be kept quiet for several months and checked regularly until the infestation has been destroyed and they can return to health.
Learn more about Heartworm Symptoms In Dogs. Stop by Jennifer Richard’s site where you can find out all about Heartworm Prevention For Dogsand what it can do for you.
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