Dirofilaria Immitis: Heartworm Disease
Affected Animals: Dogs and cats. Dogs that live outside have an increased risk for developing a heartworm infection. Felines get this infection less commonly than canines.
Information and Overview:
A parasite that can infect the heart and lungs, heartworms pose a very serious threat to both indoor and outdoor dogs. Adult heartworms cause disease because they live in the right side of the heart and pulmonary arteries where they obstruct the flow of blood through the heart and to the rest of the body. Because heartworms can cause serious, fatal diseases, prevention and treatment of infected dogs are critical. Transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes that have fed off an animal that has heartworm disease, the Dirofilaria immitis larvae migrate through the body tissues until they enter the vascular system. Within the bloodstream, they circulate and travel to the right side of the heart and pulmonary arteries. Here, they mature into the adult stage. The complete maturation of the heartworms, from larvae to adulthood, takes five to seven months. Dirofilaria immitis parasites can live for up to five years. Adult heartworms can grow to be as long as 14 inches and up to 100 or more can be living at one time. Treatment is usually through medication and often is effective, but dogs with serious complications of the heart and lungs due to heartworm have a much more guarded prognosis for recovery.
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