Canine Heart Worms

Spreading from host to host with the help of a mosquito bite is the heartworm – a parasitic roundworm that possesses a small, thread-like body. While dogs are often associated with a heartworm infestation, there are actually more than 30 species of animals affected, including foxes, wolves, sea lions, ferrets, and coyotes. Even humans can fall victim to heartworm.

Dogs become infected with heartworm when they receive a bite from a mosquito carrying infective heartworm larvae. Once the infection is transmitted, larvae continue to grow. Once it develops, the larvae will travel throughout the body until it becomes a sexually mature male or female worm. Mature heartworm then position themselves in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels.

Cough Abnormal-sounding lungs Abnormal-sounding heart Resistance to exercise Difficulty breathing Enlarged liver Swollen stomach cavity Poor blood flow to the brain