Brother Wolf has had a few dogs lately that have had heartworm disease. I was curious about what this meant so I headed to the Internet. I found a helpful website: heartwormsociety.org. The site is by the American Heartworm Society.
I warn you that some of the images on the site are graphic. It has a lot of information, though. Heartworms are prevalent in all 50 states. The site shows you which areas have a higher incidence of heartworm disease.
Heartworm disease is spread from the bite of a mosquito, which means even indoor-only pets like cats can contract the disease. After all, mosquitoes can find their way inside your house. The female releases her young (microfilariae) into the bloodstream of the infected animal. The worms look like spaghetti.
I was shocked to learn that the worms can live in the infected animal’s body for a really long time. The worms can live in cats for 2 to 3 years. In dogs, worms can live for 5 to 7 years!
I had heard that treatment is really tough for dogs. Now, I know why. During the recovery period, dogs must be restricted to either crate rest or very limited exercise because of the risk of pulmonary thromboembolism (blood clots).
I also learned that the disease cannot be transmitted from dog to dog, cat to cat, or animal to human contact. The only way the disease can be transmitted is through the bite of a mosquito.
The site is really informative and definitely encourages you to keep using those expensive heartworm preventative pills. Even if you do not have an infected pet, it is good to understand this very serious disease.
Rescue Mommy
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