It is extremely important for a dog owner to be informed of the dangers of the parasitic heartworm. As their name suggests, Heartworms exist inside a dogs heart where they can do a lot of
damage. Responsible dog owners have got to be alert to the danger of heart worm infestations and take
proper defensive actions. If you believe your dog has become infected you need to seek immediate medical treatment from your veterinarian.

Heartworms or “Dirofilaria Immitis” in Latin, by and Largelive in the right ventricle of the heart where they are able to float freely in the region of the hearts blood vessels. The Heartworm parasite is passed along by mosquitoes through their saliva. The saliva can transmit the parasite to your
dog with a single bite. So even if your dog does not come into contact with other dogs it is at risk. It is a Littleknown fact that cats are also susceptible to the parasite.

There are generally four stages to an infestation by Heartworms. Your vet would be able to prescribe existing treatments based on what phase infestation your dog has.

In the first or early stage infection your dog is unlikely to demonstrate any symptoms. Even with a blood examination it isn’t likely that the parasite will show its unsightly head. It is a great deal easier andsuperior for you
and your dog to prevent the heartworm infestation in first place. If you’re able to keep your dog clean it will be much easier on you and him or her, as when they get to 6 to 7 months in age, treatments can have an undesirable result.

In the second phase of infestation the heartworms willstart to mature and manage their way to the heart muscle. At this point the worm infestation will commence to be able to be picked up on x-ray. At this stage the worms willbegin to do their dirty work and you might observe your dog will become short of breath or startto develop a wheeze. This is due to damage being done to the blood vessels in the region of your dogs heart and lungs. The Largerthe quantity of worms the quicker the damage will mount. It is unlikely that your dog will only be infected with one worm. The worms tend to multiply rather rapidly.

In the third stage of infestation you might notice your dog starttoAdditionalawful enough the fourth stage isn’t where you want this kind of infestation to evolve to. In the fourth and most severe stage your dog may encounter what’s identified as Vena Cava Syndrome. At this point your dog may be in a near Stateof shock and will be close to death. The only substitute at this stage is surgery to eradicate the worms. Even with this radical measure
success is not guranteed.

In summary, the best thing you’re able to do for your dog is to prevent Heartworms from even having a chance at your dog. If you get them on a good quality routine early on, it is to be expected that you will never have to deal with thisUglyproblem.

It is critically important for a dog owner to be informed of the dangers of the parasitic heartworm. As their moniker suggests, Heartworms exist inside a dogs heart where they can carry out a lot of damage.

Information about the Author:

Pets Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com