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Heartworms are an internal parasite in dogs that finds its home in large arteries in and around the heart. The majority of other internal parasites that affect dogs on the other hand, live in the intestines.
Heartworm is spread exclusively by mosquitoes. This means that it's basically a threat everywhere in the U.S. and Canada, whenever warm climates allow for the bug.
There are a number of television commercials on these days for brand name heartworm medications. The simple fact is, preventative care is always the best measure when it comes to parasites, and heartworm really is worth protecting against; it can be fatal.
A central theme of this entire website is the concept of being familiar with the everyday nature of your dog. Heartworm is a prime example of why being able to notice when you're dog isn't quite normal can be so important.
Loss of stamina, weakness or shortness of breath, and coughing can all be signs of heartworm. But unfortunately, by the time these symptoms show, some damage is likely to already have occurred.
Consult with your Veterinarian about preventative medication. There are a number of options ranging from daily pills to monthly meds. If you haven't had a full check-up lately, have your Vet run some standard blood tests for heartworm diagnosis. A blood test, which can often be done locally, can be good at early indication. If you manage to stop the heartworms before they reproduce, you stand the best chance of the least damage being done.
Other methods of detecting worms also exist, including the recently dramatized x-ray detection method mentioned on the television series House M.D. - this method is in fact effective, and your Vet may decide to x-ray or echocardiogram your dogs heart in order to look for worms or damage.
Preventative drugs are for dogs without heartworm, so you have to test negative beforehand.
Be sure that your Veterinarian has addressed the issue of sensitivity to Ivermectin (an ingredient in many heartworm medications). Some breeds are more susceptible than others. You may also want to check with your breeder, as they may be aware of any susceptibility in your dog's family.
If your dog does have heartworm they will likely need a carefully administered shot. Basically the Veterinarian in question will inject an organic arsenic compound into the bloodstream, which when administered appropriately will kill both the adult heartworms and their microfilaria offspring, without harming your dog.
Hospitalized care may be needed for a few days after the injection.
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