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There are no visible symptoms at the beginning stages of the disease, when the larvae mature into adult heartworms. The first warning sign of heartworms is your dog developing a cough that is worse during exertion, such as exercise.
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As the worms multiply, they will surround the heart and lungs, crowding in the small area. But how do you tell if your dog might have heartworm? It’s not easy, but here are some signs to watch out for in your pooch. Signs of Heartworm in DogsĪ dog who survives heartworms can still potentially get bitten again by another infected mosquito, which is why all dogs are recommended to be on preventative medicine, regardless. Pulmonary blockage is the main cause of death in heartworm-positive dogs, not the treatment itself. Once a dog has been diagnosed with heartworms and began treatment, the owners are under strict orders to keep the dog as calm as possible, meaning no exercise or other rambunctious behavior that can cause pulmonary blockage from the particles of the heartworms. The fact that heartworm is a completely preventable disease and the high cost of treatment is the reason so many veterinarians encourage heartworm preventative medications, even in the mosquito “off-season” that some areas see as the seasons change. The high price tag of repeated treatments prevent many owners from fulfilling their responsibility to their dog and instead, abandon the dog at already overcrowded and underfunded shelters. Luckily, heartworms aren’t a death sentence for dogs if treatment is sought immediately and continued under the care of a vet. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell if a mosquito is infected with heartworm. Cats, ferrets and other mammals are also at risk of contracting heartworm from mosquitoes. Heartworms are transmitted only one way – through a mosquito bite from an infected mosquito.