APRIL 2011: PROTECTING OUR DOGS FROM HEARTWORM
“My little dog – a heartbeat at my feet.” ~ Edith Wharton ~
Happy
spring! Summer is just around the corner and warmer weather also brings disease
carrying fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. (See http://www.canine-clippers.com/newsletters/june2008.htm
for fleas & other tick born pests.)
Though
mosquitoes are pesky and irritating to us humans, one bite with Heartworm can
be lethal to our pets. Not uncommon, it is life threatening, which is tragic,
because it’s so easily prevented. (Cats can be infected, but vets rarely
encounter feline Heartworm and don’t routinely test or treat. Unfortunately, it
is routinely found in dogs.)
When
a Mosquito that carries Heartworm larvae bites a dog, the larva immediately enters
the bloodstream and incubates for several days. The parasite grows in the heart
and pulmonary arteries and then, by clogging and constricting blood supply to
other vital organs (lungs, liver, and kidneys), eventually causes these organs
to cease functioning, ultimately causing a protracted and painful death. A
Heartworm can live up to five years, during which time a female produces
millions of offspring called ‘microfilaria’. A female worm can grow to be an
impressive 6-14” and number as many as 300.
Symptoms
include lethargy, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, weakness and,
commonly, a soft, dry cough (due to compromising the lungs). But, because of the seriousness and
difficulty in treating this disease, and because a dog may show no clinical signs
of being infected for up to two years (by which time the disease is in its advanced
stages), it’s vital to prevent, rather than treat.
Monthly
heartworm care is actually de-worming your pet. Rather than buying over-the-counter
or online, it’s safer to buy the pills through a licensed professional, such as
your veterinarian. This way, if a dog on preventative care develops the disease
due to parasitic ‘break-through’ of the de-wormer, the manufacturer will more
likely pay the medical costs to treat the disease; in other words, they
guarantee their product. Heartworm prevention bought over the counter is
riskier and, while the product may be
replaced, there is often no guarantee from the manufacturer that it will
work and, if not, that they will pay for treatment. It’s also important, even
while on preventative care, for yearly testing to be sure no parasites have
slipped through.
Once
arsenic based and riskier, the newest treatment for Heartworm Disease is
generally administered by two injections, 30 days apart, of a drug that kills
the worms. It’s expensive (at least $500--$1,000) but Heartworm can be cured
and isn’t necessarily a death sentence. (Our dog Captain contracted Heartworm and
was treated before we adopted him; he’s healthy now, but it’s crucial that he
receive his monthly pill.) It’s absolutely essential that a dog undergoing
treatment for the disease be cared for according to the Vet’s guidelines. Rest
and quiet for one month following each treatment is paramount, since this is
the period when adult worms are dying, decomposing, and are being re-absorbed. Of course, the treatment protocol for a dog
with severe Heartworm will be more complicated because it involves multiple organs.
This
link http://www.dr-dan.com/images/HeartwormLife.JPG
provides an informative diagram of the heartworm cycle.
Other
canine parasites include Tapeworms (found in fleas), whipworms and roundworms,
which can be transmitted through feces, so it’s important not to let your dog
eat other dogs’ droppings. Fortunately (considering the dietary preferences of
two dogs in my household) parasites aren’t transferred from cats to dogs. J
Canine
Clippers is delighted to add a new service and location, in Culpepper. We are
now managing ‘Wash & Wag of Culpeper’, located at 217
If you would like to learn
how to become a dog groomer, our classes begin the second Tuesday of every
month. Please contact our
All
three of our
Linda is happy to announce
the arrival of another filly, ‘Obsession’, born March 18. Her dam is
Deena-Doriana and her sire is Magic Elixer.
~ Written by Rebecca Nilson
~
703-378-9500;
featherlepetcarechantilly@verizon.net,
703-430-0414; featherlepetcaresterling@verizon.net,
703-221-3647;
canineclipperschool@verizon.net
