Dog heartworm infection is a fatal condition caused by a parasite dubbed as heartworm but scientifically known as Dirofilaria immitis.
It is transmitted through the bites of heartworm larvae-carrying mosquitoes.
Being the definitive heartworm host, dogs are usually the ones getting infected with the parasitic roundworm.
However, other animals such as cats, sea lions and ferrets among others can get infected with it as well.
This parasite can even infect humans in rare occasions.
Heartworm could infest the heart and lung arteries of its host.
When the damage of the infestation becomes irreversible, it could lead to serious complications and to the eventual death of the victim.
Since heartworm infection is common among dogs, this alarms many dog owners.
Dog owners can take a sigh of relief because they can actually prevent their dogs from catching the dreaded dog heartworm.
There are medications used to prevent heartworm infection.
Medications could be given to dogs daily or monthly.
Since these medications require prescription, owners wanting to spare their dogs from the threat of dog heartworm would have to consult their veterinarians first.
It is important that the dog's condition is assessed by the veterinarian.
The dog should be cleared from the infection itself as it would be harmful for a dog already infected by heartworm to take medications intended to prevent heartworm.
Unfortunately, no natural prevention is known for heartworm infection other than these prescriptions.
What if the dog is already infected? Owners of heartworm infected dogs have nothing to worry about since they can still have their dogs treated.
The thing is treating dog heartworm can be very expensive.
If it's any consolation, the owners can expect their dogs to recover from the disease since the success rate of the treatment is pretty high.
Heartworm infected dogs are prescribed a different drug during the treatment.
Detecting the infection at its early stage has a significant impact on the treatment's success.
While heartworm treatment is generally successful, there are still complications involved when the infection has been detected way too late.
As they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Take the initiative and give your dog the heartworm protection it needs.
In the long run, heartworm preventives are the better choice than heartworm treatments.
If you are concerned about your dog's welfare, it is better that you prevent your dog from catching dog heartworm rather than wait for your dog to actually get infected before you take action.
Don't wait until it's too late.