Heartworms In Dogs- Symptoms That Dog Owners Should Know

If a dog has heartworms, it will cough up blood. The dog also suffers from breathing issues. Not only that, the problems will increase day by day. The blood vessels can't produce the necessary oxygen. Dog owners will also see the dog's chest and ribs protruding. Some canines will also suffer from syncope. This means they can be unconscious due to low blood pressure.

You will see ascites in dogs if they suffer from heartworms. In such a case, fluid is built up in the dog’s peritoneal cavity. That means the heartworm disease is progressing. Symptoms have become more severe. Now, dog hearts can't function properly. It loses the ability to pump blood. Does your dog show this sign? Do a blood test immediately. You will see moderate to severe anemia in your dog. Do urinalyses also. You will see protein loss. At this point, breathing issues become more problematic.

Dogs suffer from heavy weight loss due to this disease. Their appetite decreases as well. They don't even respond to their favorite treats. They don't show their usual level of excitement. This ends up in severe weight loss. Does your dog show coughing, weight loss, and listlessness? If yes, they can be the early symptoms of microfilariae. Talk to the vet immediately. Do a blood test on your dog.

As I have said earlier, the early stages of heartworms have no symptoms. Sometimes, the dog may be asymptomatic. That means it never shows any signs of infection. Even, you may not find anything after a lab test. Is your dog highly active? Does it have any underlying health issues? Is your dog older than other dogs? If yes, Science can be more pronounced in the early stages. If the larvae have been living in the pet’s body for the past 6 months, You can see heartworm symptoms appearing.

Infected dogs will suffer from continuous coughing. It may not be strong. But it is dry and persistent. Even small exercises and short walks can make them breathe heavily. That is because the parasites have infected its lungs. Generally, the heartworm microfilariae infects the liver and the lungs. They damage lung tissues. That is why the dog continues to cough.

A vet often discovers abnormal lung and heart sounds in an infected dog. They are additional to the physical signs. At this stage, dogs may suffer from chronic heart failure. It occurs specifically on the right side. You will also discover a rapid heartbeat. You will also see elevated blood pressure in the latter stages.

Once the disease progresses, the liver of the dog gets larger and fatty. The microfilariae blocks the blood vessels. That is why blood vessels can't carry the necessary oxygen to the cell. This prevents the natural blood flow. It results in liver damage. As a result, other diseases can occur soon. Such as jaundice, cirrhosis, anemia, and weakness. The vet may detect kidney damage in addition to liver damage. On the other hand, additional harmful toxins build up in the dog’s body.

This is the final stage of heartworm disease. Multiple organ failure can cause these two signs. The dog will suffer canine caval syndrome at this stage. This is quite a fatal condition. It indicates a collapsed cardiovascular system in dogs. At this stage, the dog can hardly breathe. The microfilariae blocks the main arteries. That is why the infected dog develops pale gums. The Kidneys are also damaged. So the dog can pass dark-colored urine. Other body organs in dogs will also start failing.

If the disease becomes serious, the dog can collapse anytime. This indicates a long-term infection. Heartworms survive in a dog's body for more than seven years. The more heartworms in a dog's body, the more serious the disease is. Experts say, “ This disease is a burden to dogs”. It can result in multiple organ failure. So, without treatment, the dog collapses to death.