HEARTWORMS
What is heartworm disease?
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of affected pets. Heartworms cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs in the body.
Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats, and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions, and in rare instances, humans. Because wild species such as fox and coyotes live in proximity to many urban areas, they are considered important carriers of the disease.
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of affected pets. Heartworms cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs in the body.
Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats, and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions, and in rare instances, humans. Because wild species such as fox and coyotes live in proximity to many urban areas, they are considered important carriers of the disease.
What do I need to know about heartworm testing?
Heartworm disease is a serious, progressive disease. The earlier it is detected, the better the chances the pet will recover.
There are few, if any, early signs of disease when a dog or cat is infected with heartworms, so detecting their presence with a heartworm test administered by a veterinarian is important. The test requires just a small blood sample from your pet, and it works by detecting the presence of heartworm proteins. If your pet tests positive, further tests may be ordered.
Heartworm disease is a serious, progressive disease. The earlier it is detected, the better the chances the pet will recover.
There are few, if any, early signs of disease when a dog or cat is infected with heartworms, so detecting their presence with a heartworm test administered by a veterinarian is important. The test requires just a small blood sample from your pet, and it works by detecting the presence of heartworm proteins. If your pet tests positive, further tests may be ordered.
Map data Companion Animal Parasite Control
How is heartworm disease transmitted from one pet to another?
Adult female heartworms living in an infected dog, fox, wolf, or coyote produce microscopic baby worms called microfilaria that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites and takes a blood meal from an infected animal, it picks up these microfilaria. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another dog or cat, or other susceptible wild animal, the infective larvae are deposited onto the surface of the animal's skin and enter the new host through the mosquito's bite wound. Once inside a new host, it takes approximately 6 months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. Once mature, heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats. Because of the longevity of these worms, each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in an infected pet.
Adult female heartworms living in an infected dog, fox, wolf, or coyote produce microscopic baby worms called microfilaria that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites and takes a blood meal from an infected animal, it picks up these microfilaria. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another dog or cat, or other susceptible wild animal, the infective larvae are deposited onto the surface of the animal's skin and enter the new host through the mosquito's bite wound. Once inside a new host, it takes approximately 6 months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. Once mature, heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats. Because of the longevity of these worms, each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in an infected pet.
When should my dog be tested?
All dogs should be tested annually for heartworm infection, and this can usually be done during a routine visit to your veterinarian for preventative care. Following are guidelines on testing and timing:
All dogs should be tested annually for heartworm infection, and this can usually be done during a routine visit to your veterinarian for preventative care. Following are guidelines on testing and timing:
- Puppies under 7 months of age can be started on heartworm prevention without a heartworm test (it takes at least 6 months for a dog to test positive after it has been infected), but should be tested 6 months after your intital visit, tested again 6 months later, and then yearly after that to ensure they are heartworm free.
- Adult dogs over 7 months of age and previously not on a preventative need to be tested prior to starting heartworm prevention. They also need to be tested 6 months after the intial testing, and then annually thereafter.
- If there has been a lapse in prevention (one or more late or missed doses), dogs should be tested immediately, then tested again 6 months later, and back to annual testing afterwards.
When should my cat be tested?
Heartworm infection in cats is harder to detect than in dogs, because cats are much less likely than dogs to have adult heartworms. The preferred method for screening cats includes the use of both an antigen and an antibody test (the antibody test detects exposure to heartworm larvae). Your veterinarian may also use x-rays or ultrasound to look for heartworm infection. Cats should be tested before being put on prevention and re-tested as the veterianarian deems appropriate to document continued exposure and risk. Because there is no approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats, prevention is critical.
Heartworm infection in cats is harder to detect than in dogs, because cats are much less likely than dogs to have adult heartworms. The preferred method for screening cats includes the use of both an antigen and an antibody test (the antibody test detects exposure to heartworm larvae). Your veterinarian may also use x-rays or ultrasound to look for heartworm infection. Cats should be tested before being put on prevention and re-tested as the veterianarian deems appropriate to document continued exposure and risk. Because there is no approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats, prevention is critical.
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