The Treatment Process of Heartworm in Dogs

Posted on September 25th, 2007 in Treatment by heartgard

Heartworm in dogs can kills our beloved pets. Once the heartworm in dogs is in its advanced stage, the parasite can migrate to the dog’s heart to cause congestive heart failure. Heartworm in dogs do not only cause damage to the dog’s heart. This parasite can also damage the dog’s other organs including the lungs, the eyes, the liver, the kidney, the arteries and even the dog’s brain.

Preventive measures should be taken to combat heartworm in dogs. To prevent this, you have to make sure that your dog is not exposed or vulnerable to mosquitoes. Also, as part of eliminating mosquitoes at home, clean the possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes especially during the local mosquito season.

In case you suspect infection of heartworm in dogs, you have to bring your dog immediately to a veterinarian. The veterinarian will then prescribe preventative or therapeutic medications against heartworm in dogs.

One of the preventative and therapeutic medications for heartworm in dogs is Ivermectin. You may not have heard of Ivermectin yet because it is more popularly known by its brand name, Heartgard.

Heartgard is effective against the larval forms of heartworm in dogs. If the heartworm in dogs is already in its adult stage, the adult forms should be eradicated before the larval forms are killed. An arsenic based compound usually kills the adult forms of heartworm in dogs.

Before the heartworm in dogs is treated, the veterinarian must first make sure that the dog is healthy. He has to especially check the dog’s vital organs since treating heartworm in dogs can cause an unusual stress to the dog’s organs. If the dog is unhealthy, this issue should be addressed first before proceeding to the treatment of heartworm in dogs.

If the dog is unhealthy during the treatment of heartworm in dogs, the treatment may cause organ failure in the dog and can then lead to the dog’s death. After the treatment of heartworm in dogs, the dog has to rest in order to help its body eliminate the dead worms. Otherwise, the dead heartworm in dogs may still go to the lungs and cause respiratory failure and death to the dog.

Treatment of heartworm in dogs is a long and delicate process. The dog must be prepared for the treatment to ensure maximum effect of the treatment.

But before your dog will even need treatment for heartworm in dogs, take precautionary measures to prevent this parasite from infecting your dog.

Tags: , , , ,

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Netvouz
  • DZone
  • ThisNext
  • MisterWong
  • Wists

Post a comment