Heartworm larvae is carried by mosquitoes and transmitted to dogs when they bite them. In almost every area in the United States there are periods during the year that mosquitoes are present. If a dog has not been pre-treated to protect them from being infested they can easily be infected with the larvae and for several months or years there may be no symptoms of infestation. By the time that heartworm symptoms in dogs becomes visible it has become a serious condition for the pet.

Many pet owners have their pets treated for heartworms each year during a regular checkup. Being treated before symptoms appear ensures that the pet will not develop heartworms or, if they have been bitten by a mosquito carrying larvae, the larvae will not survive long enough to do any permanent damage.

The types of medications that are available to figure heartworm infestation vary. Some of the medications can be given as an injection and are needed only once a year. Other treatments require regular application of creams or ointments. In some cases dogs are given pills to take that will kill that heartworm larvae and protect the animal from infestation.

Mosquitoes breed in any area that has standing water. This can be a long standing puddle or well as well as riverbanks where the water does not move. It is important that if an individual lives in an area where there may be standing water or a pool that they take extra precautions to protect their pet.

By the time heartworm symptoms in dogs begins to be visible the parasite has established itself throughout the dog's bloodstream. Heartworms can exist in a dog for several years without any symptoms occurring. It is only when they begin to clog the heart that symptoms will show. This is why treatment of heartworms once the symptoms appear can be so costly and often futile.

When heartworms infect the heart and lungs of the dogs many of the symptoms in dogs of heartworms will become visible. Heartworms clog the vessels in the heart and the blood supply to the brain is significantly reduced. They will often develop a cough that include gasping. In some cases dogs will also cough up blood in their attempts to breathe while coughing.

Another symptom is shortness of breath. While the heartworms invade the heart, they also invade the other organs of the body. By the time symptoms occur the heartworms are usually lodged in the lungs as well as this makes it difficult for the dog to breathe normally. When they breathe it will sound very thready and uneven.

Because adequate blood cannot flow to the brain the dog will also often lose consciousness and appear very lethargic. They will act very tired and usually will stop eating when they have reached this stage of the illness. They will not be able to walk for any distance and climbing stairs or jumping will be too difficult for them to accomplish without assistance.

When any of these symptoms appear it is important that the dog be taken to the vet immediately. Once the heartworm symptoms in dogs have developed to this extent the treatment is expensive and involves x-rays, work-ups and injections. In addition the dog must be kept quiet during treatment and for several months after to insure that treatment has been successful.

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