About Heartworm

What is heartworm disease?

Heartworm disease is an illness caused by – you guessed it – the parasitical monsters known as heartworms. Heartworms can be up to 12 inches in length and take up residence in your dog’s heart and the vessels that move the blood from the heart to the lungs. Once there, they can cause dangerous blockages and cut-off blood flow, leading to red blood cell lysis (destruction of red blood cells with release of their contents); heart failure; and stress on the kidneys and liver.

The parasite’s official scientific name is Dirofilaria immitis, but it’s commonly called “heartworm” because of the damage it can do to a pet’s cardiovascular health when it creates a home in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

Dogs in this condition are not likely to live more than a few weeks or months.

The American Animal Hospital Association places the average cost of preventative heartworm treatment for dogs at $5-$15 per month and the cost of treating a dog already diagnosed with heartworm at $400-$1,000. With both prevention and treatment, costs typically increase with the weight of the dog.

Heartworm disease is a serious condition that can have lifelong effects on the health of your pet – even when it’s successfully treated. The good news is, heartworm disease is preventable.

How long does it take for a dog with heartworms to show symptoms?

Some dogs live with heartworms for a long time with little to no outside indicators of infection, especially if they don’t have many heartworms. That said, heartworms have a lifespan of five to seven years, so unfortunately they have plenty of time to wreak havoc on your dog’s system