Stage 1: Pet at first stage generally shows no signs to a very few signs of illness, like the slight cough. Stage 2: During the second stage, the heartworm can be determined by moderate symptoms including coughing, fatigue after exercise, weight loss and a scruffy appearance.
Class 3 Heartworm Infection
During this stage, a dog may have a cough that is very severe. They may also have difficulty breathing and make strange sounds when they breathe. Much more extreme lethargy is likely at this stage. Having a pot belly, weight loss, and a reduced appetite occurs as the condition progresses.
Microfilariae must pass through a mosquito to become infective larvae. When the infected mosquito bites another dog, the mosquito spreads the infective larvae to the dog through the bite wound. In the newly infected dog, it takes about 6 to 7 months for the infective larvae to mature into adult heartworms.
Stage 2: Stage two of heartworms in dogs is accompanied by moderate symptoms including intolerance for exercise and a more lingering cough. The heartworms have been present long enough in the body for antibody production and probable microfilariae production.
Symptoms are not always obvious in dogs with low worm burdens, have been recently infected, or are not very active. Dogs with heavy worm burdens, have been infected for a long time, or are very active, often show obvious symptoms. There are four classes, or stages, of heartworm disease.
Stage 4 – Heartworms have caused severe damage to the animals heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. In this stage, Caval syndrome is likely. Caval syndrome is when there is such a large amount of worms blocking blood flow to the heart that it creates a sudden life-threatening problem in need of quick surgical intervention.
Class 4: The heartworms are causing a blockage at this stage, so the symptoms are severe. He will experience constant coughing, exhaustion, and weight loss because he will find it uncomfortable to eat. When your dog is at this stage, known as caval syndrome, it might be too late to save him.
The lifespan of a dog in this condition is most likely limited to a few weeks or a few months. Your vet will guide you on the best course of action for treating your dog depending on the severity of their infection. Dogs can live for at least six to seven months after becoming infected with heartworms.
Treatment to kill adult heartworms
Your veterinarian will determine the specific injection schedule according to your dog's condition. Most dogs receive an initial injection, followed by a 30-day period of rest, and then two more injections that are given 24 hours apart.
Heartworms can also cause nosebleeds, pneumonia, high blood pressure, seizures, blindness, and excessive sleeping. When heartworms reach places other than the heart and lungs, like the brain and eyes, dogs will experience seizures and blindness.
Common symptoms of heartworms in dogs
One of the first signs of heartworms in dogs is a soft, dry but persistent cough. This occurs because the adult worms that have set up home in your dog's lungs and associated blood vessels will be interfering with his breathing.
Is heartworm painful? - Haywood Animal Hospital. Heartworm disease can be painful if the heart is very enlarged or if the migration of the worm suddenly happens and causes some issues in the vessels.
Discussion. Hemoptysis (expectoration or coughing up of blood) has been reported as a consequence of severe heartworm infection in dogs,2-6 although it remains a relatively uncommon finding. Even fewer reports exist of dogs coughing up or vomiting up adult heartworms.
Recheck Heartworm Test: After the Immiticide is administered it takes about 4-6 months for the heartworms to die off. 6 months after the 2nd & 3rd treatments we retest for heartworms to make they were all terminated. Continuous heartworm prevention is highly recommended to insure the patient will test negative.
As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen. Dogs with large numbers of heartworms can develop a sudden blockages of blood flow within the heart leading to a life-threatening form of cardiovascular collapse.
Dogs with heartworm disease can live high-quality lives as long as they are given appropriate care. After completing treatment and following your veterinarian's recommenda- tions on heartworm disease testing and prevention, the chances of any long-term effects are very low.
After treatment, the adult worms die and are carried by the blood to the lungs where they lodge in small blood vessels. There they decompose and are absorbed by the body over a period of several months. Reactions to the drugs are not uncommon, and there is always some risk involved in treating a dog for heartworms.
All of the damage that the heartworms do while they're inside the body is permanent. Sometimes we can reverse some of the symptoms, but all of the damage will still be present.
Allow the heartworm positive dog to join you on the sofa or on the floor for quiet time. Keep the dog on a leash and tethered to you. If there are other dogs in the house, they should also be in a calm state of mind.
There is no reason to allow running, jumping, or other physical activity at any time for 8 weeks after the start of the injectable heartworm adulticide treatment.
Left Untreated, Heartworm Disease can Kill Pets.
Signs of heartworm disease in cats can be very subtle. Symptoms may include coughing, asthma-like attacks, vomiting, and weight loss. Sadly, the first sign in some cases is sudden collapse or even sudden death.
If owners can't afford treatment at the time of diagnosis, Dr. Herrin recommended delaying melarsomine therapy but still initiating treatment with both a preventive and doxycycline. This will prevent further infection and remove the dog as a heartworm reservoir.
Approximately 6 months following the last injection, blood is taken to test for the presence of adult heartworms. If the result is negative, the dog is considered to be heartworm clear. The dog should be maintained on heartworm preventative monthly all year.
In severely affected dogs, you may see a swollen abdomen due to fluid buildup because the heart cannot effectively circulate blood, or notice a cough, or other signs such as respiratory distress. Heartworm disease in dogs is known as a silent killer, because it can take months before your dog shows symptoms.