How vets diagnose canine heartworm disease

Canine heartworm disease can be very difficult to treat. Treating heart disease often involves dangerous complications. Early detection is important- prevention is even better.

Video: Canine Heartworm Disease

Cause and Symptoms of Canine Heartworm Disease

Canine heartworm disease occurs when Dirofilaria immitis worms infest your dog`s heart. These worms are spread by mosquito bites, so dogs are more vulnerable to infection during mosquito season, and in locations where mosquitoes are prevalent.

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Symptoms include coughing, weight loss, weakness, dull coat and an unwillingness to exercise.

Types of Heartworm Tests

If you live in an area where mosquitoes are prevalent, even if only seasonally, your dog should get a yearly heartworm test. Ideally, your dog should take a monthly heartworm preventative medication. Heartworm infection may be symptom free, especially in its beginning stages, so your vet will want to make sure your dog isn`t infected before prescribing a preventative medication.

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There are three common types of test your vet might use to make a diagnosis of heartworm.

• A heartworm antigen test looks for the presence of proteins excreted by the sexually mature female heartworm.
• A filter test looks for the presence of microfilaria, or larval heartworms, in your dog`s blood.
• A heartworm antibody test looks for the presence of heartworm antibodies in your dog`s blood.

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Prevention of Canine Heartworm Disease

Canine heartworm disease can be easily prevented with the use of a monthly ivermectin-based heartworm preventative. Ivermectin-based drugs kill the heartworms while they are still in a larval stage, preventing them from growing into heart-infesting adult worms.

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