Is It Easy For Dogs to Get Heartworm

Heartworm is a parasite that can be transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes. The disease is caused by the larvae of the worm Dirofilaria immitis. The disease is typically transmitted when the mosquito bites an infected dog and then bites a healthy dog.

Heartworms are not easy to detect in dogs because it takes up to six months for symptoms to appear and they can be difficult to identify. There are some signs that owners should look out for, such as coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss and pale gums.

How common is heartworm among dogs?

Over 100,000 dogs in the USA are diagnosed with heartworm infection annually [1]. The development of clinical disease, most commonly manifesting as coughing and exercise intolerance, brings a guarded prognosis [2].^[1]

What are the first signs of heartworms in dogs?

Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen.^[2]

Is it common for dogs to have heartworms?

In the United States, heartworm disease is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries, but it has been reported in dogs in all 50 states.^[3]

How does a dog get heartworm?

Heartworms are transmitted from an infected animal to your healthy dog through mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites your dog, the mosquito can also pass on infective larvae. Over 6 to 7 months, these larvae develop into adult heartworms, causing severe health issues and potentially death.^[4]

What states are heartworms most common?

The five states with the highest incidence of heartworm were Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Alabama. In Mississippi, almost 10% of dogs tested for heartworms were heartworm positive in 2019; in Louisiana, just under 8% of dogs tested were positive.^[5]

How soon can heartworm be detected?

Antigen is detectable by 6½ to 7 months after infection and positive results may be obtained with as few as 1 to 3 adult females in the heart. Antigen tests will be falsely negative if: the infection has been present for less than 5 months (dog is infected, but it is too soon for adults so there is no antigen present).^[6]

Can dogs survive heartworm?

No one wants to hear that their dog has heartworm, but the good news is that most infected dogs can be successfully treated. The goal is to first stabilize your dog if he is showing signs of disease, then kill all adult and immature worms while keeping the side effects of treatment to a minimum.^[7]

Is heartworm treatment expensive?

Average Cost of Treatment. The average cost of heartworm treatment for dogs is often around $1,000. However, it can range from $500 to $1,100 or even more depending mainly on the size of your dog, veterinary bills, and the stage of the disease.^[8]

How much does a heartworm test cost?

The Positive Heartworm Test It’s recommended that all dogs be tested annually for heartworm disease, even if they are on heartworm prevention. A heartworm test may range from approximately $35 to $75.^[9]

How long can a dog go without heartworm pills?

Most of the monthly heartworm medicines have a safety factor of at least 15 days of protection if a dose is missed. This means that if you’re just a week or two late, your pet is likely still within that window of protection and would be unlikely to become infected during that time.^[10]

How can you prevent heartworms in dogs?

Right now, heartworm disease can only be prevented through the regular and appropriate use of preventive medications, which are prescribed by your veterinarian. These medications are available as a once-a-month chewable, a once-a-month topical, and either a once or twice-a-year injection.^[11]

How long can a dog survive with heartworms?

The severity of the infection, as well as the overall health of the dog, will play a role in determining how long the dog will live. In general, however, it is thought that most dogs with heartworm infection will not live more than two years if they do not receive some treatment.^[12]