Is your dog coughing continuously? Or being lazy to move around or reluctant to go on a walk with you? This is not a minor thing to ignore, but a serious matter to consider. These are the signs that predict that your furry friend is suffering from Heartworm infection.
Among the various dog worms that your pet may suffer from, heartworm is the deadliest with the direct attack on the heart, lungs and the surrounding blood vessels. Usually, a dog is infected with heartworm through mosquito bite. A mosquito acts as a carrier that transfers dangerous organism called Dirofilaria immitis from an infected animal to a healthy host.
When a mosquito bites an infected dog or cat, these dangerous worms get into mosquito through blood and stay there until the insect bites a healthy animal. When again mosquito sits and bites an unprotected dog, the microorganisms are ingested into the blood of this dog. And, heartworms reproduce and multiply in the victim’s blood vessels, where they are again carried to another healthy pet when a mosquito bites. This way heartworm infection spreads on from one dog to another.
At the primary stage of heartworm infection, dogs do not show severe symptoms except mild coughing and laziness. However, when a canine is heavily infested, he starts suffering from various health issues.
Signs that show a dog is suffering from heartworm
- Coughing
- Intolerance to exercise
- Anemia
- Lethargy
- Fainting spells
- Labored breathing
- High blood pressure
- Rapid Heart Beat
- Enlargement of the right side of the heart
- Chronic heart failure
If you find that any of these symptoms your pet is suffering from, then it’s a RED light for you to be alert. Visit your vet for the diagnosis and take treatment to help you furry friend free from heartworm disease.
If your doggie is not showing any possible symptoms then the good news is that you can protect your pal from this disease. With the help of proactive treatment like Heartgard Plus, Sentinel, Interceptor and Revolution, you can prevent heartworm infection in your pet. These heartworm preventives are effective and available in the market. Heartworm prevention treatment helps you safeguard your pet from this dangerous disease.