Heartworm Testing

Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes when an infected mosquito bites a dog. The larvae the mosquito transmits then matures in the dog’s heart and pulmonary arteries as adult worms. These heartworms can lead to congestive heart failure if left untreated. Thankfully there are many safe and effective preventive products available to protect your dog from catching heartworm disease; please speak to our veterinary health care team to find out the best choice for your dog.

What are the symptoms of heartworm in a dog?

Mature heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries. Symptoms are similar to those of many cardiac problems and include: coughing, exercise intolerance/loss of stamina, difficulty breathing, weight loss and in advanced cases may involve fainting after exercise or swell in the belly and legs due to fluid accumulation.

How do dogs get heartworm?

Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. A mosquito bites an infected dog, and the larvae develop in the mosquito. The same mosquito then bites another dog, and the larvae mature to adult worms in the dog, making him/her heartworm positive. Dogs cannot contract heartworm directly from another dog; the mosquito must be involved as the heartworm larvae develop within the mosquito.

What are the treatment options for heartworm?

As is often the case, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure here! There are safe and effective heartworm preventives that only require administration once per month to keep your dog safe from heartworm. We are fortunate that at this time there are few confirmed cases of heartworm in Nova Scotia. If, however, your dog is diagnosed with heartworm, the course of treatment combines numerous medications that are administered in stages for a longer duration until your dog is free from all stages of heartworm – larvae and adults. On rare occasions, surgery may be required to remove all worms successfully.

Why is recovery and heartworm treatment challenging?

Unfortunately, many dog owners do not recognize concerns until the worms have damaged the heart and surrounding vessels. The more severe the case of heartworm disease, the harder the recovery. During treatment, and for a period after, until all rounds of treatment are completed, dogs must adhere to a strict rest policy as fragments of dead worms can lead to blockages in the heart and arteries. Strict rest can be very challenging for pet owners of younger and active pets and may require pets to be crated for extended periods of time until cleared.