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Preventing and Treating Heartworm in DogsTreating heartworm in dogs is very harsh as the drugs used are very toxic. The preferred route therefore is prevention.
What is Heartworm?
The heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a parasite that lives in the heart of a dog. Dogs are the natural hosts of heartworms although in rare cases cats can be
infected as well.
Heartworms can grow as long as 11 inches. Adult heartworms produce young ones called microfilaria which circulate through the dog's bloodstream in greatest numbers
in hot weather when mosquitoes are abundant.
When a mosquito bites an infected dog, the microfilaria are sucked up by the mosquito. Once inside the mosquito, the larvae must develop through more stages before they can
infect another dog. For that to happen, outside temperatures must remain above 57°F (13.9°C), day and night, for a minimum of 8 days. The warmer the temperature,
the faster the larvae will mature.
If the temperature drops below 57°F, the larvae stop developing until the weather warms up to 57°F or above. Larvae reach their infective stage in 8 to 30 days.
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Cause of Heartworm in DogsWhen an infected mosquito bites a dog, the mirofilaria are deposited on the skin, where they progress through two more developmental stages under the skin. After that, they enter the bloodstream via nearby veins. Once inside the body, they migrate to the heart and settle into their new "home", where they eventually develop into adult worms, reproduce, fill the blood with microfilaria, and pass it on to the next mosquito. The maturation process takes about 6 to 7 months after the original mosquito bite. Adult heartworms can live up to 7 years in a dog. TopDog Heart Worm SymptomsAccording to the American Heartworm Society, during the early stages of infestation, a dog may show few, if any, symptoms, since the number of heartworms in a dog tends to accumulate gradually over a period of months and sometimes years and after repeated mosquito bites. Heavily infected dogs may eventually show symptoms, which include:
Treating Heartworm in Dogs - DiagnosisHeartworms can be diagnosed by means of a simple blood test when a veterinarian finds microfilaria in the blood. As mentioned above, an infected dog may not show any symptoms of illness at its early stage or if the infestation is light. Usually a dog has to be infested with a considerable number of worms before showing symptoms. If you live in a high-risk areas, it is therefore important to have regular blood tests to make sure that your dog is not infected. TopTreating Heartworm in DogsTreating heartworm in dogs is very involved and almost always requires hospitalization. The treatment can be very dangerous as well because the drugs used are arsenic-based and are understandably very toxic. When the heartworm drugs are given to an infected dog to kill the adult heartworms, the dead worms may be dislodged from the heart and lungs and obstruct blood vessels, sometimes causing immediate death. Also, the massive die-off of the worms can cause severe inflammation and even respiratory failure. Sadly, not all dogs survive the treatment. TopTreating Heartworm in Dogs - Preventative Measures
Since treating heartworm in dogs is extremely risky and hard on the dog, the preferred route is taking preventative measures.
Conventional preventive measure is the use of drugs to kill the heartworm larvae (microfilaria) before they mature. The most common preventative
drugs for heartworm are ivermectin (Heartgard®), milbemycin (Interceptor®) and selamectin (Revolution®).
These drugs are generally safe and effective but they can cause side effects in some dogs.
Side effects associated with ivermectin include depression, balance problems, and blindness, although these are uncommon at the low doses used in
heartworm preventatives. However, ivermectin should be used with caution in collies and related breeds such as Old English Sheepdodgs and Australian Shepherds, who are more
sensitive to the neurological effects of the drug.
Milbemycin, the most common alternative drug for collie breeds, can cause depression, lethargy, vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, convulsions, weakness and excessive
drooling.
Selamectin side-effects include diarrhea, vomiting, muscle tremors, appetite loss, lethargy, drooling, and rapid breathing.
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Are There Natural Remedies for Heartworms?Some dog parents are reluctant to give conventional heartworm preventive drugs to their dogs in view of the potential side effects that may be caused. Many wonder if there are alternatives such as herbal or homeopathic remedies that can prevent heartworm infection in dogs. There are a few herbal and herbal-homeopathic combo remedies that claim to be able to prevent heartworm in dogs. However, they all contain the herb wormwood which, although a classic dewormer, is too strong and can be toxic if used for long periods. (Wormwood should not be used at all in dogs with liver disease.) Black walnut hull is another herb that is used in some herbal formulae for heartworms. However, this herb should also be used with care because of the potentially irritating tannine constituents it contains which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and gastritis in dogs. In addition, it is not really clear if black walnut hull is effective in preventing or treating heartworm in dogs. Some veterinarians, including Dr. Pitcairn, have been experimenting with a homeopathic preventive "nosode" made from microfilaria-infected blood. It is still in its clinical study stage, but the results are encouraging. In the future, this may eventually be the alternative to drug use. It seems that for now, if you live in an area where mosquitoes are plentiful, the best way is to use conventional heartworm preventive drugs to protect your dog from getting infected. In addition, you may want to:
References Pitcairn and Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005). M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999). American Heartworm Society (http://www.heartwormsociety.org/). TOP of Treating Heartworm in Dogs |
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