Help for Heartworms

There are a number of oral and topical heartworm preventatives such as Heartgard or Interceptor available to treat dogs and cats, and these can be administered once per month. These medications help to prevent the microfilariae (larvae) from developing into adult heartworms.

Because dogs and cats that live outside are more susceptible to heartworm, it is recommended that they receive this treatment monthly. Indoor pets, however, still remain at risk. Keep in mind that these medications have toxic side effects and have been linked to serious disorders such as liver and kidney disease, arthritis and skin allergies.

Heartworm in dogs is treated with an adulticide, medication administered to kill adult worms over a period of a month. After the one month period filaricide therapy which involves the administration of microfilaricide to kill the microfilariae. Treatment for heartworm in cats has not been approved as yet and involves treating the symptoms with intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, bronchodilators or confinement.

Natural remedies  Read more... (479 words, 2 images, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

What Are Heartworms?

Heartworms are deadly parasites that affect dogs and cats, as well as other animals. These worms are also referred by their scientific name Dirofilaria immitis and actually live in the right side of the heart and arteries of the lungs. It causes a serious condition that includes heart failure, blocked arteries and breathing difficulties. When a mosquito bites your dog or cat, your pet may be infected with heartworms.

Heartworms are thin, long (about 12 to 30cm) worms and have an adult lifecycle of 5 to 7 years for dogs while in cats, it is between 2 to 3 years. During this time millions of larvae are produced but they only become fully matured after living in the mosquito.

Sometimes there may be no symptoms of heartworm in dogs and cats.

Common symptoms and signs of heartworm include:

* Coughing
* Rapid/ fast breathing
* Labored breathing
* Fatigue, lethargy and listlessness
* Intolerance for exercise
* Weight loss
* Loss of appetite
* Bloody phlegm

In addition, there may also be symptoms of anemia, swollen abdomen, jaundice, bulging chest and prominent ribs. Convulsions, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, vomiting and in the advanced stages, heart failure or clotting in the pulmonary arteries may occur.  Read more... (667 words, 2 images, estimated 2:40 mins reading time)