Pet Wellness: What Should You Know About Heartworm Disease?

Heartworms in dogs could be alarming, but it is not a life sentence for your furry buddy if the disease is determined early and treated with heartworm treatment. Since of their high contagiousness and rapid spread, heartworms in dogs have the potential to be fatal. You need to examine your dog for heartworms and begin therapy immediately.

Signs Your Dog Has Heartworm Disease

However, if a dog is not diagnosed or treated by a dog cardiologist within six months after being infected, it might not display any symptoms. Dog health worries, such as diabetes and hyperactivity, could be more obvious in puppies and lively dogs.

Even so, dog owners should know heartworm illness’s warning signs and symptoms. Heartworm illness can be separated into four stages, each with its own signs and symptoms.

Stage 1: Relentless Coughing

It is common for a dog to begin coughing if heartworms have infiltrated the lungs and began increasing in the lung and surrounding arteries– dry, unproductive coughing, which is visible after exertion. Coughing fits in dogs can be so severe that they create dizziness and even fainting in specific dogs.

A dog coughing simply once is not a reason for worry, but owners should consult an internal medicine vet if the cough aggravates or continues. Since heartworm causes a dry cough, the signs are obvious right away.

Stage 2: Lethargy

Lethargy is the second sign of heartworm infection in dogs. When your dog shows lethargy, it might stop playing, going for walks, or even eating. You need to take your dog to the vet immediately if you see any of these signs and symptoms.

If left neglected, it can lead to canine depression and other major health concerns. Dogs become lethargic when they lose interest in activities and only move a limited amount. When this happens, they are more likely to become overweight since they no longer participate in physical activity.

Stage 3: Panting and Shallow Breathing

If your dog is suffering from heartworms, it will be challenging for them to obtain the blood and oxygen they require. Furthermore, fluid may accumulate in and around blood vessels, making it harder to breathe due to parasites causing their way into the lungs and limiting airflow. This is painful and dangerous for dogs, who depend upon living to survive.

Stage 4: Fainting

A trip to the clinic is in order if your dog unexpectedly falls unconscious without warning. At this point, the parasite population has increased, creating chaos throughout the dog’s body. Blood arteries and veins can leak with the liquid built up in the lung.

This is fairly hazardous because the liquid can rapidly obstruct blood arteries and cause fainting and collapse. Your dog might be nearing the end of its life if this is the only behavior you notice in them now.

Final Thoughts

All of your dog’s needs are met by you. These pets can only inform us something is wrong by sending signals to our bodies since they can not communicate verbally. Heartworm in dogs can trigger discomfort and fatality if the parasite spreads too quickly. Please call or bring your dog to an animal hospital like Stroudsburg veterinary hospital if you detect these indicators.

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