Are you thinking of giving your dog heartworm pills? Is your pooch sick and tired of having the same symptoms as an animal with heartworm? Heartworm is a very serious disease that can have dire consequences for dogs, and you need to know the signs so you can be prepared to treat your pet. An ounce of prevention goes a long way and keeping up with routine checkups and vaccinations is one of the most important things you can do for your dog’s health.
Like many types of diseases, heartworm is highly contagious between animals. It is transferred through the bite of an infected heartworm cat or dog, as well as from contaminated soil, food, and water. There is rarely a time that heartworm disease is not present in the environment, making prevention a simple and inexpensive part of your pet’s regular vet visits. But if you have a dog or cat and are wondering should I give my dog heartworm medication, then the answer is yes.
Heartworms in dogs are usually diagnosed based on symptoms such as scratching, blood in urine or stools, and extreme discomfort during or after a heartworm attack. If your dog has any of these symptoms, you should see your vet as soon as possible. The earlier a heartworm infection is detected, the more likely you are to successfully treat it. Untreated heartworm disease can lead to heart failure, sudden death, and inflammation of the heart wall. Even high-quality dog heartworm medication can have some side effects.
Heartworm can be difficult to detect in dogs. Since dogs are often found to be healthy on the outside, they are often missed when heartworm tests are performed. Sometimes, there are no symptoms at all. It is important to remember that heartworm disease doesn’t just affect dogs. Even humans can get heartworm, so it’s critical to know whether your pet has heartworm or not.
Before administering heartworm pills to your dog, your vet will check for any abnormalities. For example, X-rays may show no evidence of heartworm. Blood tests can also reveal no evidence of heartworm. Your vet may choose not to administer a heartworm pill if he or she discovers that the dog’s skin is scaly and thickly populated with mites. These mites, which are called Caspian emiya, actually resemble a hardened ear curl and can be very difficult to see without magnification.
There are several different types of heartworm disease in dogs. The most common is called atherosclerosis. This is caused by heavy deposit of fatty deposits in the heart arteries, which cause the arteries to become thick and eventually fail. Treatment for heartworm in dogs usually involves debridement of the arterial wall and the administration of a heartworm medication.
Treatment for adult dogs can be quite simple. Your vet may recommend a heartworm medication that he or she could prescribe to you. You would take the pills daily as directed and your dog would have heartworm treatment for life. There are other types of heartworm medication for dogs, including multiple medications that must be taken on a regular basis. There are also injectable heartworm medications, which are given via a vein in the dog’s leg.
When your dog contracts heartworm, the medication would be given intravenously into the dog’s blood. The dog would then need to be observed carefully for symptoms such as itching at the injection site, a reduction in heart function, and even swelling at the site of the injection. If these symptoms are present, the dog would need to be hospitalized and the treatment would be continued at home until it is no longer present. If you notice any unusual behavior while your dog is under heartworm medication, you should contact your vet immediately and ask what other options you have to prevent heartworm from harming your dog.