How does a dog get 'heart worm'?

Question

Both my dogs are vaccinated every year, but can they still get 'heart worm', if they can how do they get it, and how can I prevent it?

Answer 1

Good question

Heart-worms are a parasite that is spread by mosquito's. The mosquito bites an infected dog - and then goes to another dog (your dog) and bites it, thereby spreading the parasite.

This can be prevented by giving your dog preventative medicines (usually a chewable cookie-like tablet that most dogs find very tasty - available from your vet). This is especially important in the "summer" months but very often year-round prevention isn't that expensive - and you have the assurance that your dog is unlikely to get heart-worm.

However, you should also have your dog tested every spring - around March is good - to make sure that she doesn't already HAVE heart-worms.

BTW the cure for heart-worms is very hard on the dog's system. Prevention is so much better and easier.

Answer 2

Heartworms are generally transmitted by mosquitos. They bite an animal that is infected, then bite an animal that isn't on preventative. The heartworm larvae gets into the bloodstream. They end up in the heart where they develop into adult worms. This stresses the heart and the dog ultimately dies.

The annual vaccination shot for heartworms was discontinued a while ago (I believe). The only tried and true preventative is monthly pills. These are chewable pills administered once a month. Best way to prevent your dog from getting heartworms is to keep them on the pill year round. In some areas where it freezes in the winter vets will tell you that you can stop giving the pill to your dog in the winter months. But then they'll need to be tested again in the spring before they can go back on the pills. A six month supply of HW preventative pills generally runs $30-$75 depending on the brand you get.

Be careful about buying HW preventative from those 1-800-Pet Meds places. A lot of them buy expired products and sell them. They are often not as effective if they're out dated.

Some pet pharmaceutical companies have come up with a drop that is administered to the shoulder area that is supposed to help prevent heartworms. It's just like Frontline or Advantage only with an added HW preventative in it. It has already been approved for, and is used for, cats. Yes, cats can get heartworms too. It's rare, but it is becoming more and more common.

Treatment for a dog that is infected with heartworms is expensive. Depending on your area of the country and the severity of the worms, it can cost anywher from $500-$1,500. And the treatment is pretty rough on the dog. They are essentially given a shot containing arsenic. It has to be enough arsenic to kill the worms but not enough to kill the dog. And the dog has to be kept on complete bed/cage rest for at least 4-6 weeks. No running or off-leash activity at all, otherwise it can kill them.

The best bet is to have your dogs tested for HW and if they test negative, get them on a good HW preventative and keep them on it year round.

And don't be fooled by the thought that a dog with a thick coat can't be bit by a mosquito (we hear that a lot in husky rescue). The fur is still very short and thin on the legs, ears and nose. ANY dog can be bit by a mosquito.

Answer 3

A heartworm is passed by mosquitoes to dogs when a mosquito bites your dog.
the larvae is passed thru the feeding tube of a mosquito to a dog, where the larvae hatch, and work their way to the dog's heart, where they grow and breed, and feed on a dog.
you can prevent this by getting heartworm preventative from your vet. it is available usually by prescription only. You need to test your dog to see if they have this condition. Do NOT give this to your dog if you have not test him, because should they have heartworms, you could really hurt or kill your dog with the medication in the preventative.

it comes in pill form, or a chewy treat you give your dog once a month.

the chewy treat is easier. and some come with other worming medication that helps keep your dog healthy, and treats for hookworms, roundsworms, etc.

make an appt. with your vet, have them tested and start treatment if he is healthy. it costs around 75.00-100.00 dollars a year for monthly treatments. it may cost more, but is worth every penny to keep your dog healthy.

Answer 4

Microscopic larvae of teh worms are transmitted by mosquitoes when they bite. Over a six month period, the larvae grow and migrate into teh body, finally forming into adults in the pulmonary arteries. If male and female worms are present, tehy will reproduce and release new larvae (microfilaria) into the blood stream. Another mosquito feeding on the dog becomes infected when it picks up the microfilaria and teh cycle begins again. The presence of worms incite a serve inflammatory reaction. The arteries going to the lungs become thickened and narrowed, resulting in a gradual blockage of blood to teh lungs. The right side of teh heart, pumping bloo dto the pulmonary arteries, increases in size as it tries to overcome teh increased resistance. In severe cases, the heart can undergo right-sided failure resulting in dealth

There are different type sof preventative meds that you can get. Theres Heartgard-prevents heartworm, Interceptor-prevents heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, Sentinel-same as interceptor with an added flea prevention, Revolution- prevents heartworm, kills fleas, roundworms, hookworms, mites and control ticks and tehn preheart which prevents heartworm and hookworm... I suggest talking it over with your vet and find one that is in your budget and is best for your dog

Answer 5

We use a combo flea/tick/heartworm preventative once a month. It's the kind that you just squirt on their neck. It will keep them itch (from fleas), Lyme Disease (from ticks), and hearworm (from mosquitos) free. Technically if you live in a very cold climate where insects do not live through the winter, you don't have to use it all year round. But, if there's even one bug stashed in your house, the dog can still get sick, so better safe than sorry

Answer 6

Yes they can as this parasite is transmitted via mosquito bites. It's easily preventable but very difficult to treat as killing them all at once would block blood flow in the heart. You can buy medication called Heart Gard and use it once a month. It's a chewable tablet and tastes good to dogs so they eat it without a word.

Answer 7

Vaccination does not prevent heartworm. It is transmitted by mosquitos. You have to have your dog tested for it (to make sure they have not contracted it already) and then get a heatworm preventative by prescription from the vet to give your dog monthly.

Answer 8

They need to take a pill monthly. It is about $30 for 6 months worth of pills. You need a prescription. This is a preventative only. I think they get it from being outdoors, sniffing other dogs stuff.

Answer 9

they get it from a mosquito bite.. if its an infected mosquito. The mosquitos get infected by biting an infected dog.

You can get a preventative at your vet. I use hartguard.