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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Question #1: What is heartworm disease?
Answer To Question #1
Heartworms are parasites, largely of dogs. They are thin 6"-8" long worms that live literally within the heart of their host.
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Question #2: How do heartworms get into the dog?
The heartworm reproductive cycle is a marvel of ingenuity. Since they reside entirely within the circulatory system, they cannot pass eggs to the outside, as do many of the intestinal parasites. Therefore, the female heartworm (yes, two sexes!)lay microscopic juvenile worms, or larvae. These are called microfilaria. The microfilaria float in the bloodstream. When the dog is bitten by a mosquito, the microfilaria are drawn into the insect. They remain there for a period of time while they undergo development. Then, when the mosquito bites another dog, the microfilaria are transferred to the new host. They eventually migrate back to the heart, grow to maturity, and set up housekeeping again.
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Question #3: How do heartworms affect dogs?
The worms lie within the chambers of the heart. If there are enough of them, they literally clog the chambers and interfere with the function of the heart's valves. The effect is to decrease the production of the heart. To combat this, the heart muscle enlarges, in an attempt to improve its output. The eventual result is congestive heart failure.
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Question #4: Is my dog at risk for heartworms here in Washington State?
No.
To date, there is no established heartworm disease here. The reason is not due, as might be supposed, to the absence of mosquitos, or of the right species of mosquito. There are at least 11 species of mosquito in the state of Washington which are reported to have transmitted heartworms in other areas.
The reason is, rather, that the average temperature in this area is too low to allow the microfilaria to properly develop after being ingested by the mosquito.
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Question #5: Is my cat at risk for heartworm disease?
There are a number of reports of heartworm infestation being found in cats. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to identify their presence in cats. Fortunately, it is a relatively rare disease. They are usually discovered at autopsy. And again, there is no threat in Washington State.
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Question #6: Is my dog at risk if I travel with him?
A qualified "yes". It depends, of course, on where you go. Heartworm disease is endemic (constantly present) in the southern tier of states, from eastern Texas to the Atlantic Ocean. It is seasonally present along the Atlantic Coast north, and in all the major river valleys of the Midwest. It is spotty in other places, such as California, and has been reported in southern Oregon's Willamette Valley. The best course of action is to either call ahead to the area you are traveling to, or inquire of veterinarians once you have arrived.
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Question #7: Can heartworm disease be prevented?
Yes. There are several oral products and a couple of "spot-on" products that prevent the microfilaria from living in the dog, should it be bitten by an infected mosquito. These products only need to be given once per month, a far cry from the daily regimen of former years.
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Question #8: Can heartworm disease be treated?
Yes, but it is a harsh treatment, fraught with danger for the dog. First a medication is injected to kill the adult worms. However, as they die, they flow out of the heart and into the lung field, where they lodge in the smaller arterioles. There they cause inflammation which can be quite severe, leading to pneumonia. Also, the medication used is an arsenic derivative, which is harmful to the dog in its own right.
After the adult worms are removed, and after the dog has recovered the from the insult of that treatment, another medication is given to kill any circulating microfilaria, so that the dog is no longer infective. This, too, can be hard on the dog, although not so bad as the initial phase.
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Question #9:
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| 16511 140th Place N.E. |
| Woodinville, WA 98072 |
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| Phone: |
(425) 483-5005 |
| Fax: |
(425) 483-5558 |
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