“Goose Honk” Cough The first and most obvious symptom of heartworm in dogs is the persistent cough, which is often likened to the sound of a goose hoking. This goose honk cough occurs whether the dog has been active or not, but it is more common after a dog has just exerted himself in some way.
Light, Dry Cough
When heartworms infiltrate the lungs and start reproducing in the lungs and in the surrounding vessels, your dog may start to cough. This is usually a dry, unproductive cough that can be more obvious after exercise. Sometimes dogs may have “coughing fits,” that may even cause fainting.
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.
Persistent Cough
The most obvious sign of heartworms in dogs is the noticeable and persisting cough that goes along with this disease. It is a dry cough, but it comes frequently and is usually brought on by activity.
Dogs who are suffering from heartworm disease may begin coughing up blood as the disease progresses due to inflammation and damage within the lung field. If your dog has not been on routine heart worm prevention, it is best to inform the veterinarian at the time of the visit so a heartworm test can be completed.
A persistent or progressive cough in a dog, when combined with other symptoms, can be a sign of heart disease. Additional symptoms to watch for include: Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing at rest, or trouble breathing when lying down. Tiring easily with activity, reluctance to play, or sleeping more than normal.
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.
Once heartworms make their way into the lungs and begin reproducing in the lungs and surrounding veins, your dog will begin exhibiting a dry cough, typically after exercising.
Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen.
Worsening Cough with Activity
If your dog's cough is getting worse when she's active or when she tries to eat, then it may be a symptom of kennel cough. Once again, however, this is also a symptom associated with heartworm disease, and it's important for your vet to rule out heartworms before diagnosing kennel cough.
A persistent, dry cough is a common sign seen in dogs with advanced heartworm disease. The cough caused by heartworm disease can be one of the first signs you notice in an otherwise healthy-appearing dog. Lethargy and reluctance to exercise are common signs described in dogs with advanced heartworm disease.
How Long Can a Dog Live Without Heartworm Treatment? A dog can live at least six to seven months from the date of infection.
The earliest that microfilariae can be detected in a dog's bloodstream is about 6 months after it is bitten by an infected mosquito (because it takes about that long for the heartworms to develop from infective larvae into adults that mate and produce microfilariae).
Tracheal collapse and irritation can cause coughing when the pet is excited, tugging on its collar, or drinking water. Tracheal collapse occurs most commonly in middle to aged overweight small breed dogs. The cough is often described as sounding like a goose honking.
Six months after they bite your dog and inject those larval microfilariae heartworms into your dogs, it takes that six months for them to develop into that adult worm. So generally, it's anywhere from six to 12 months after they've been bitten; you may start noticing signs in your pet.
Dogs that have a high number of heartworms often develop symptoms such as pronounced and persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, and exercise intolerance. In more severe cases, dogs may also experience fainting or collapse, pale mucous membranes, weakness, elevated heart rate (tachycardia) and severe lethargy.
Restrict exercise– no running, walks for exercise or rough-housing. Generally speaking, it's ok to walk your dog outside to use the restroom or to sit outside to enjoy the weather, but no walks (short or long) for exercise. Your veterinarian may have alternative recommendations.
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.
Sometimes dogs may inhale foreign objects or material that gets lodged in their airways. Coughs that become suddenly violent or sound like gagging, possibly including attempts to swallow and frequent lip licking could be a sign that something has become stuck in your dog's throat.
While the risk of heartworm is more prevalent in spring and summer when there are more mosquitos, a pet can get heartworm any time of year.
Spring time is notoriously known as “heartworm season” for many pet owners as well as “flea and tick season”. There is truth to this! Springtime is when all of the creepy crawlies begin to come out of their hibernation and start infecting our pets (and sometimes us!) to start their lifecycles.
In general, dogs that are diagnosed with congestive heart failure can live anywhere from 6 months to 1 1/2 to 2 years. Other factors that affect how long a dog can live with CHF include: The age of the dog. The severity of their condition.
If your dog is vomiting, it may be a symptom of worms. Each type of worm is known to cause vomiting. Dogs with whipworms may vomit a yellow-green substance while dogs with roundworms, hookworms or tapeworms may vomit visible worms. In most cases, you'll be able to see the worms in your dog's vomit.
If your pet has received the first injection of the three injection heartworm treatment, then you will need to schedule a follow up appointment in 1 month to administer the final two injections of the heartworm treatment. Your pet will stay overnight at that time.