Knowing the risks and consequences of heartworm disease is important for a dog owner. Heartworms are a type of parasite that can infect your dog's heart, lungs, and blood vessels, causing severe health problems and even death if left untreated. In this article, we will discuss all the facts you need to know about heartworms in dogs.
What Are Heartworms?
Heartworms are parasitic worms that can infect dogs, cats, and other mammals. They are transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, which carry immature heartworms called microfilariae. Once inside your dog's body, these microfilariae mature into adult heartworms, which can grow up to 12 inches long and cause severe damage to your dog's heart and lungs.
Symptoms Of Heartworms In Dogs
Heartworm disease is often called the "silent killer" because symptoms may not appear until it is in its advanced stages. Some common symptoms of heartworm disease in dogs include:
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Swollen abdomen
- Fainting
- Death
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is important to take them to the vet as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm disease is both preventable and treatable with the right approach.
The key to safeguarding your dog's heart and lungs is to prevent heartworm infection from occurring. While minimizing mosquito exposure is a step in the right direction, it does not fully protect your dog from heartworm transmission, as avoiding mosquito bites entirely is nearly impossible, especially during the summer months.
Clinically approved treatments can effectively prevent heartworms from developing, even if infected mosquitoes bite your dog. These heartworm preventatives are usually given every month, and your veterinarian can recommend whether to use them year-round or seasonally, depending on your dog's specific health needs.
While heartworm disease treatment is available, it can be lengthy, stressful, and costly. The best strategy for protecting your dog from heartworm is to administer a monthly preventative. Below are some of the top heartworm prevention options available for dogs.
Heartgard Plus
- Heartgard Plus Chewable is a reliable monthly heartworm preventative.
- Protects against heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms.
- Made with real beef for enhanced palatability.
- Suitable for puppies six weeks of age and older.
- It can be used as a preventative measure and for ongoing protection against heartworms.
Nexgard Spectra
- Nexgard Spectra effectively eliminates paralysis, Bush, and Brown Dog ticks.
- Provides comprehensive protection against heartworm disease in dogs.
- Treats and prevents flea and tick infestations, offering complete protection.
- Its rapid action helps prevent flea tapeworm infections in dogs.
- Provides efficient treatment for gastrointestinal nematode infections.
- Controls infestations of adult roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.
- Safe for all dog breeds, starting from weighing 4.4 pounds or eight weeks of age.
Revolution Spot On
- Revolution for Dogs is a convenient, monthly topical solution.
- Non-greasy formula that dries quickly for easy application.
- Provides effective prevention against heartworm disease.
- Targets and eliminates fleas, flea eggs, ear mites, scabies, and ticks.
Sentinel Spectrum
- Sentinel Spectrum is a monthly chewable tablet for comprehensive protection.
- Features a highly palatable beef-flavored formula for easy administration.
- Prevents heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, and whipworm infections.
- Effectively eliminates fleas and prevents the development of flea eggs.
- Safe for dogs weighing 2 pounds and above.
Advocate (Advantage Multi)
- Advocate for Dogs is a fast-acting, easy-to-use, spot-on treatment for multiple parasites.
- Provides reliable protection against heartworm infections.
- It kills all fleas within 12 hours and prevents future flea infestations.
- Begins working on re-infesting fleas within 3–5 minutes of application.
- Offers protection against common gastrointestinal nematode worms.
- Effectively treats lice, ear mites, Demodex mites, and sarcoptic mange.
Nexgard Plus
- Beef-flavored chew provides broad-spectrum protection against heartworm and four types of ticks.
- For dogs with a current heartworm test, NexGard Plus Chew is highly recommended by veterinarians.
- FDA-approved formula that prevents heartworm disease when administered as directed.
- It kills adult fleas before they lay eggs, ensuring comprehensive flea control.
- It also treats hookworms and roundworms effectively.
- It contains key ingredients: afoxolaner, which combats fleas and ticks, and milbemycin oxime, which targets heartworms by disrupting chloride channels in parasitic worms.
Simparica Trio
- Provides multi-coverage protection against heartworms, fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms.
- Simparica Trio Chewable Tablet for Dogs is highly recommended by veterinarians for comprehensive flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.
- Offers broader coverage compared to many other preventative medications on the market.
- Each monthly chew contains sarolaner, which spreads throughout the dog's body to kill ticks and fleas upon biting.
- It contains moxidectin to treat intestinal parasites and pyrantel to treat and control hookworm infections.
- It is ideal for pet owners seeking a preventative against heartworm, fleas, ticks, and various intestinal parasites.
- It is suitable for puppies aged eight weeks and older, weighing at least 2.8 pounds, and has the potential for lifelong use.
- While the tablet is chewable, a pill pocket may help encourage reluctant dogs to take it.
While numerous highly effective heartworm treatments are available, it's crucial to consult your veterinarian to determine the best prevention plan for your dog. Your vet will likely recommend one of the trusted treatments mentioned. Important considerations include:
- Administering medication consistently.
- Using a single type of treatment.
- Ensuring the correct dosage is applied for optimal protection.
Comparison Chart
Heartworm is a very dangerous parasite that can be fatal for cats & dogs. In addition, it can be challenging to treat once established, so you must add heartworm preventative as a part of your pet's treatment routine.
Your pet will get transmitted when mosquitoes bite insects; cats & dogs can be infected without contacting any other animals, although they are only indoor pets.
Multiple heartworms preventative are available in the market, so choosing the right product for your pet is very important. Here we have prepared a comparison chart of the significant heartworm-preventative brand to help make your option easier to understand.
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Brand
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For
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Active Ingredient(S)/ Application
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Prevents Heartworm
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Prevents Roundworms
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Prevents Hookworms
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Prevents Whipworms
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Prevents Tapeworms
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Safe for Pregnant or Nursing Pets
|
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Dogs & Cats
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Dogs
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Ivermectin, Pyrantel, Pamoate
Monthly; Beef-flavored chewable |
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Dogs & Cats
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Milbemycin Oxime
Monthly; Beef-flavored tablet |
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Dogs
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Dogs & Cats
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Selamectin
Monthly; Topical |
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Cats Only
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Cats Only
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Dogs
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Dogs
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Dogs
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Ivermectin, Pyrantel
Monthly; Beef-flavored chewable tablets |
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Dogs
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Spinosad, Milbemycin Oxime
Monthly; Beef-flavored tablet |
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