NL70 INGB 0007967310

What is it?

Heartworm is a disease caused by a parasitic worm that can live inside your dog’s body, settling in the heart and/or pulmonary arteries.
Dogs become infected through the bite of a mosquito carrying the worm larvae. After the bite, the larvae enter the dog’s bloodstream and travel to the heart, where they attach, mature into adults, and produce new larvae.

​

What does it do?

Heartworm develops slowly but causes damage to the walls of the heart and the large pulmonary arteries.

​

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of heartworm include:

• Reduced stamina

• Coughing

• Weight loss

• Enlarged liver

• Fluid accumulation in the abdomen

• Breathing difficulties

• Anemia

• Kidney damage
   

What is the treatment?

There are two ways to treat filaria/heartworm in dogs:

1. Immiticide injections given into the muscle to kill the worms. This treatment kills the worms quickly, but the sudden death of the worms can cause blockages (thrombosis) in the blood vessels and leakage in the heart, which is very dangerous for the dog.

2. Monthly preventive treatment with worming spot-ons or tablets. This safer and longer treatment kills larvae and worms gradually, greatly reducing the risk of blockages or heart leakage.
    

Is it contagious?

Heartworm infection requires a mosquito vector that does not currently live in the Netherlands. Therefore, dogs with heartworm are NOT contagious to other dogs or people.

​

Because the mosquito’s habitat around the Mediterranean is expanding, it is recommended to thoroughly worm your dog if you travel to risk areas. Ask your veterinarian for advice well before your trip.

​

​