Successful treatment depends on early diagnosis (
before heartworm symptoms are obvious) and the ability to kill all of the adult worms in the heart and arteries of the lungs.
Canine heartworm symptoms are usually not revealed until the disease enters into an advanced stage, resulting in patient infection.
Heartworm symptoms include coughing, exercise intolerance, increased breathing rate or effort, abdominal distension with fluid, discolored urine as well as many other symptoms, depending on the severity of the disease process.
Early signs of heartworm disease in dogs It would be great news for pets and people
if heartworm symptoms were always obvious, but the truth is they are generally invisible or unnoticeable.
The only prevention they offer is killing the mosquito larvae (microfilaria) before they develop into adult worms, which migrate to your dog's pulmonary artery and
cause heartworm symptoms.
It is important to understand that individual stages are not always clearly identifiable and some stages can overlap, but the following information will help educate you about the four major stages, as well as their
accompanying heartworm symptoms.
Heartworm symptoms do not show up until the disease has progressed significantly, so it is important to have your dog checked regularly.
Heartworm symptoms include chronic coughing, tiring easily, unwillingness to exercise, difficulty breathing, lethargy and an enlarged abdomen.
It would be great news for pets and people
if heartworm symptoms were always obvious, but the truth is they are generally invisible or unnoticeable.
Dry Skin May Be the Cause of His Excessive Scratching Dog
Heartworm Symptoms and Prevention Pet Insurance
Heartworm symptoms include:
Pets infected with heartworms can be found in all states, in spite of the fact that very effective heartworm prevention products... → Read More: Why You Won't See Your Dog's
Heartworm Symptoms, Until it's Advanced
In addition to reviewing the following Ask a Vet Online Questions and Answers, also see our Dog
Heartworm Symptoms and Natural Heartworm Treatment for Dogs pages.