Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Heartworms

It’s Heartworm Awareness Month! As you can probably guess, the purpose here is definitely not to honor or celebrate heartworms. It’s to raise awareness of the dangers they pose to our beloved pets. A Columbia, MD vet lists some not-so-fun heartworm facts below.

They Spread By Mosquito

Heartworms aren’t spread directly from dog to dog. They are in fact transmitted by mosquitoes. This is one reason that they’re so widespread: Fido can be infested pretty much anywhere, even if he hasn’t gone anywhere near a dog with heartworms.

They Grow Quickly

Heartworms are in larval form when they are transmitted, but they won’t stay that small for long. It only takes them about six months to mature and start reproducing. 

They Get Long

Female heartworms can grow to be about 10 inches, while males grow to about 12. They also look a lot like spaghetti. Yuck!

They’re Everywhere

Although heartworms are somewhat more prevalent in the south, where mosquitos are around for most of the year, they’re very widespread, and have been found in all 50 states.

They Can Be Fatal

As the name suggests, heartworms infest dogs’ hearts, as well as their lungs and arteries. Needless to say, this is extremely dangerous! Left untreated, infestations are unfortunately often fatal.

They Affect Cats, Too!

Unfortunately, kitties can also be afflicted with these horrible worms. While heartworm infestations do affect cats a little differently than they do dogs, they are just as dangerous for Fluffy as they are for Fido. Even a single worm can be fatal to your feline pal! Ask your vet for more information.

Symptoms Can Develop Rapidly

Usually, the first signs of a heartworm infestation would be coughing and shortness of breath. Fido may also seem tired and lethargic, and may be hesitant to run and play. As the symptoms progress, you may notice weakness and trembling. Serious cases can cause collapse, seizure, and, sadly, sudden death. 

Treatments Aren’t Fun

There is some good news here: heartworm infestations can be treated. However, the process can be pretty hard for Fido. For one thing, the medicine that kills the heartworm is pretty powerful. You’ll also need to severely limit your pet’s activities until treatment is completed.

Do you need to get your pet some parasite control, or get them tested for heartworm? Contact us, your Columbia, MD animal clinic, today!