Dog Heart Worm Symptoms

Dog Heart Worm Symptoms

Dog Heart Worm is a very nasty disease that will need to be treated as soon as the symptoms are first spotted. If your dog or puppy is unfortunate and becomes infected with the disease it can very often be fatal.

Below are some of the facts that we have uncovered

• Heartworm is also referred to by its scientific name of Dirofilaria Immitis.
• It is a parasite and feeds of it's host i.e. your dog with the male capable of growing to a length of 23 cms and the female capable of growing even longer at 30 cms.
• The parasite will go through a development stage that consists of a baby phase and then it will grow into an adult - it is during the adult stage that it is at it's most deadly.
• Due to the parasites size and width it is particularly deadly as it can block the arteries to the heart.
• If your dog has become infected by multiple worms then the arteries are at a greater risk as they can become completely blocked - this will lead to some very serious problems.
• The worms will start in the blood stream until they have worked through the blood stream up to the main heart chamber (right chamber) where they can block the heart vessels (Pulmonary and Vena Cava).

Symptoms

• Your dog may start off with symptoms including a mild cough.
• Your dog may display weakness and appear tired and lethargic.
• More serious symptoms can include breathing problems
• As the symptoms develop your dog's cough may become more severe.
• When the liver becomes infected your doh may display Jaundice.
• The last and most final heart worm symptoms are when your dog may collapse and this is when the disease will cause death.