What happens when your dog has heartworms?

Being the owner of a dog or a cat, it is important that you learn about all of the different health elements that you need to be aware of.  Although your dog will be vaccinated for a lot of harmful health problems, be aware of other symptoms, such as those related to heartworms. If you have any questions about heartworms, do not hesitate to talk to the veterinarian at your next dog appointment.

Some dogs infected with heartworms might not develop a heartworm disease. Those dogs will carry the larvae on their skin or in their body, but not in the heart. However, if the heartworms start developing around the lungs or in the heart, the dog can become very sick.

Damages to pulmonary arteries by heartworms. A heartworm can damage the pulmonary arteries only within days after establishing itself in those arteries. Because they are too big, the immune system of the infected animal is unable to destroy the heartworm. This will cause inflammation at first. If the damages to the arteries become more severe, aneurysms and blood clotting are formed, causing arteries to plug up. These will result in a lack in oxygenation of the dog’s lungs. Some of the symptoms can be quick exhaustion following exercise, lots of coughing, nose bleeds and even a form of non contagious pneumonia (pulmonary eosinophilic granulomatosis)..

Heart failure from heartworms. If the heartworms locate themselves in the arteries of the dog’s heart, arteries will plug up, therefore the heart has to work harder and faster to get the blood flowing throughout the body (hypertension).

Sometimes, the right side of the heart weakens and fluid accumulate in the chest and in the abdomen of the dog, creating a belly-like appearance and difficulty to breath.

In severe cases, the heart thickens from overworking and starts acting differently. This can lead to a disruption of the heart contractions and can create an arrhythmia and sudden death of the dog.

Chronic stimulation of the immune system. The presence of heartworms in the dogs will trigger its immune system to respond and send antibodies on a regular basis, leading to a chronic inflammation. This chronic inflammation can cause damage of the surrounding cells, triggering damage of the tissues and a lot of pain for the dog.

Caval syndrome. Caval syndrome is an aggravated version of heartworm disease. Sometimes, the heartworms can proliferate (as much as 100) and fill up the entire heart of the infected dog. This happens when the unfortunate animal shows no signs of heart problems prior to the caval syndrome. Because it is so severe, the dog will collapse and death will usually occurs within 1 or 2 days unless surgery is performed.

Other possible syndroms. Rarely, the heartworm larvae can migrate to unusual sites, such as the eye, the brain or a leg of the dog or cat, leading to some unusual symptoms like blindness, seizures and difficulty to move.

.

Give your pet heartworm medicine. Ask your veterinarian today about heartworm.