Vet warns heartworm infections increasing in Douglas
ANIMAL HEALTH
A Mossman vet is reporting an increase in the number of heartworm infections in dogs in the Douglas Shire region this wet season.
Dr Susan Pasagic of the Mossman Veterinary Surgery said the increase in cases have been detected through routine checks prior to the animals undergoing surgery.
“A simple and cheap test can determine if your dog has heartworm before it is too late,” she said.
“Remember that prevention is much cheaper than treatment, and that heartworm if untreated will kill your dog.”
Dogs contract heartworm infections through bites from infected mosquitos and there is no way to tell if a mosquito is infected.
Dr Pasagic said it can take up to seven months for the heartworm larvae to mature into adult worms.
“The larvae then lodge in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels and begin reproducing,” she said.
“Adult worms can grow up to 12 inches (30cm) in length, can live for up to seven years.
“A dog can have as many as 250 worms in its system.”
There are no immediate symptoms of a heartworm infection but as the worms multiply in the dog, the animal may develop a cough and exercising will become difficult.
“If your dog is not on heartworm prevention and has any of these symptoms, it’s important that you get your dog tested ASAP,” Dr Padagic said.
“It is important to test your dog if they are over the age of six months, to ensure they don’t have heartworm before starting any treatment.”
The test for heartworm involves a small amount of blood being collected and tested. The test is very cheap and fast with results available within 15 minutes.
“If your dog gets heartworm it will require treatment, most dogs respond very well to treatment and go on to live normal happy lives.
“I am often asked, can he get them again? The answer is yes. If you treat your dog for heartworm it’s important to make sure they are on prevention thereafter, or the dog can be re-infected.”
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