Dogs in this condition are not likely to live more than a few weeks or months. Your veterinarian will advise you on the best treatment approach for dogs diagnosed with advanced heartworm disease. Treatment to kill adult heartworms requires an injectable drug, melarsomine (brand name Immiticide®or Diroban®).
How long can a dog live with heartworms? Dogs are able to live for years with this parasite, however, their condition will continuously worsen. It's a dangerous disease overall, which is why some people have even described untreated heartworms as the “slow kill.”
Stage 3: By stage three of heartworms in dogs, the symptoms of the disease will be very noticeable and have a big impact on your dog's health. Dogs continue to cough and experience fatigue after exercise, may be reluctant to exercise at all, and can have trouble breathing.
Most dogs who receive timely and appropriate treatment for heartworm go on to live full, healthy lives. However, if the disease was advanced, some may have lasting damage to the heart or lungs that requires ongoing care. That's why prevention is always the best medicine.
Signs of Heartworm Disease in Dogs
Swollen Belly
This is because the presence of heartworms can result in fluid accumulation in the belly by obstructing blood flow in the arteries that supply the liver and other organs. The dog may appear to have a rounded or bloated stomach, and it may also be uncomfortable or in pain.
Dogs of any age, breed or sex may be affected. The disease is rare in dogs less than one year of age, however, because the microfilariae take 5 to 7 months to mature into adult heartworms after infection. Unfortunately, by the time clinical signs are seen, the disease is usually well advanced.
Restrict exercise.
But your dog's normal physical activities must be restricted as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, because physical exertion increases the rate at which the heartworms cause damage in the heart and lungs. The more severe the symptoms, the less activity your dog should have.
Additionally, even though melarsomine is highly effective, a single course of treatment may not completely clear all dogs of infection (the American Heartworm Society protocol calls for three separate injections of melarsomine.
In more advanced stages of heartworm infections, your dog will find it hard to complete normal physical tasks like eating. If you notice weight loss and a lack appetite in your dog, then you should take him to the vet immediately to rule out heartworms and other illnesses. Shallow and rapid breathing.
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.
Also bring a fresh stool sample for them to check for the presence of worms. Finding microscopic intestinal worm eggs in the stool is the most common way to diagnose worms in dogs. Heartworms are diagnosed with a blood test, an X-ray of the chest, or an ultrasound of the heart.
Without treatment, heartworm disease will shorten a dog's natural life expectancy. With treatment, especially if the disease is discovered early (hence the veterinary recommendation for annual heartworm testing!), many dogs will have close to a normal life expectancy.
Common indicators of heartworm infection are as follows:
Melarsomine kills adult heartworms in the heart and adjacent vessels. This drug is administered in a series of injections. Your veterinarian will determine the specific injection schedule according to your dog's condition.
In dogs, heartworm disease has four stages:
Apples: Apples are great for dogs with heartworms due to their high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber. Apples in your dog's diet may help repair damaged tissue and blood vessels and support the health of their vital organs.
For dogs, heartworm treatment typically follows a carefully staged protocol. Pre-treatment medications like antibiotics weaken the worms and reduce complications. Anti-inflammatory medications manage lung inflammation. Adulticide injections are given over a series of visits to kill adult heartworms.
If you can't afford heartworm treatment for your pet, here are some options to consider. You can contact local animal shelters or non-profit organizations that may offer financial assistance for veterinary care. Also, talk to your veterinarian about setting up a payment plan or negotiating the cost of treatment.
How successful is heartworm treatment? The 3-part injection of melarsomine is 98% effective at killing the adult worms. However, dogs who do not receive adequate rest after the injections are at risk for pulmonary embolisms, which can be fatal, due to dying worms blocking blood flow in the lungs.
Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs at Tractor Supply Co.
Stage 4: Severe Disease and Life-Threatening Complications
The most serious stage of heartworm disease can be life-threatening. In severe cases, worms can block blood flow, leading to a sudden emergency known as caval syndrome. Immediate surgical intervention is often required to save the pet's life.
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.
The cough associated with heartworm disease in dogs is often likened to the sound of a goose honking. If your dog tends to get into coughing fits after activity or eating, and if those coughs sound harsh and honk-like, then she may have heartworm disease or another heart related concern.