What are heartworms?
Heartworms are roundworms that, as the name suggests, live in the heart and also the lungs of mammals. But this is only at two stages of their lifecyde. Heartworms begin their life in the pulmonary (lung) arteries of a mammal, typically a dog, as microfilaria (“little worms”, the LI stage) and quickly make their way into the circulatory system of their host. A mosquito takes a bloodmeal from this infected animal ingesting microfilaria at the same time. In the dog, microfilaria not ingested by a mosquito will, over a 2-3 year period, die; they will not mature past this stage of life. In the mosquito the microfilaria go through two molts, into the larval (L3) stage, and then migrate to the mouthparts of the mosquito. The mosquito takes a bloodmeal, depositing the larvae onto the animal. The larvae make their way into the bite wound left by the mosquito and into the tissue of the animal. Over the next 190 days the larvae go through two more molts, becoming immature adults, the L5 stage, a
Heartworms are blood parasites that are transmitted by mosquitoes. The “baby heartworms”, called microfilaria, circulate in the bloodstream, maturing to adult worms in the heart and vessels of the lungs. The mature worms can cause permanent heart damage, leading to heart failure. All dogs are at risk. Heartworms can be detected with a simple blood test. It is easy to prevent heartworms; once-a-month chewable heartworm preventives are available that also protect against intestinal parasites. All puppies should be started on heartworm preventive at their fist visit. We recommend that heartworm preventive be given year-round due to Michigan’s unpredictable winter temperatures and to continue the intestinal parasite protection. A dog infected with heartworms can be treated, but permanent heart damage can occur and the treatment is costly. It is much simpler and less expensive to prevent them from occurring. Although cats have some natural resistance to heartworms, they still can become inf
Heartworms are worm-like parasites that grow to be about 14 inches long and live in the right side of a dogs heart. The larvae of the parasite are transmitted to dogs through mosquitoes. The growth of the heartworms can block the flow of blood to your pets heart and eventually cause death. It is important to have your pet tested for this disease if you suspect he may have it. Cats can also get heartworms. Ask the doctor for preventative. medication.
Heartworms are worm-like parasites that grow to be about 14 inches long and live in the right side of a dog’s heart. The larvae of the parasite are transmitted to dogs through mosquitoes. The growth of the heartworms can block the flow of blood to your pet’s heart and eventually cause death. It is important to have your pet tested for this disease if you suspect he may have it. Cats can also get heartworms. Ask the doctor for preventative. medication.
Heartworms are worm-like parasites that grown to be about 14 inches long and live in the right side of a dog’s heart. The larvae of the parasite are transmitted to dogs through mosquitos. The growth of the heartworms can block the flow of blood to your pet’s heart and eventually cause death. It is important to have your pet tested for this disease if you suspect he may have it.
