Some of the primary symptoms of heartworms are loss of appetite and weight loss, the outward appearance of an animal, lethargic behavior, and more. While any of these could be a temporary sign of an otherwise minor problem, each is a primary symptom of heartworms and should not be ignored. When any of these symptoms are observed action should be taken as soon as possible.

Loss of weight is one of the many symptoms of heartworms in pets. Always keep an eye on how much your pet eats daily, and take note of any loss of appetite or loss of weight. Weight loss can be a symptom of many things, however it is one of the primary symptoms of heartworms, and when noticed it should be addressed immediately.

Aside from loss of weight, an animal’s outward appearance may change obviously. Any sign of the ribs becoming more protruded or if the chest seems to have become more prominent or bulged should be noted. Take care too to notice if the animal appears to have trouble breathing. These are each potential early signs of heartworms and should be observed by a licensed veterinarian.

Some animals can be lazy of course, and lounging around the house or on a favorite piece of furniture may not be cause for alarm, however most enjoy a good run with their owner or a nice game of fetch. If a general disinterest in these types of activities is noticed when the animal typically participates eagerly, or if the animal appears to tire easily, this should be discussed with a veterinarian.

Animals cough for a variety of reasons just as people do. Just as with people, an animal’s cough can be an indicator of nothing more than having ingested something improper or too quickly, however it can also provide clues to a bigger problem and is an early indicator of heartworms. Pay close attention if an animal begins to cough frequently. A soft but deep sounding cough is an early symptom of heartworms and should not be taken lightly or overlooked.

More symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea, bloody stool, jaundice, poor coat condition, and blindness. Any of these should sound the alarm and a trip to a trusted veterinary clinic should follow quickly.

While heartworms are most prominent in dogs, other animals are vulnerable, and even people can become infected! It is critical to recognize heartworm symptoms as quickly as possible and seek treatment immediately.

They are very similar to more common illnesses and maladies. Owners and even vets sometimes don’t pay much attention to what appears to be run of the mill problems. To make matters worse, once he starts showing signs of sickness, he’s already very very ill.

Common symptoms in the beginning are vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems including wheezing, and coughing. They can progress to an enlarged rib cage (which grows wider to encompass the enlarged heart and lungs), bloody stools, and loss of appetite. All these symptoms are similar to those caused by more common diseases and not always recognized by owners or even vets.

They more frequently than not look like the common cold or an allergy. Even your vet may not immediately reckon of heart worm when you bring him in for a check up.

Outdoor dogs are more likely to become infected with heartworm because heartworm is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and, of course, mosquitoes are more likely to be found outside. But, since these pests can all too easily get into our homes, it’s not unheard of indoor dogs to become victims to the disease as well. And, because these same dogs don’t go out often, owners tend to ignore the symptoms and never reckon about heartworm when the coughing and wheezing starts.

Even tiny dogs can be in danger, whether they seldom go outdoors. Don’t assume that just because your small Maltese never leaves the house that his coughing or diarrhea can’t be serious. Small dogs run a higher risk of mortality, too, if heartworm is left untreated because the worms can grow to about a foot long without regard to the size of the dog or the size of his heart.

Even though prevention is the key, that doesn’t mean that your dog is immune to the disease just because he received his heartworm medication on time. Even the best medications on the market won’t guarantee that your dog will be able to ward off the effects of an infected mosquito.

One of the major reasons symptoms tend to be ignored is because the dog has received heartworm medication and there is an assumption after that that the dog must be coming down with something else; he couldn’t possibly have heartworm. This assumption can cause your dog’s demise.

No matter what type of pill you or vet chooses for your pet, the ingredients will most likely include either selamectin or ivermectin. Many vets recommend that these pills should be given in addition to the usual topical treatments, especially in known areas of high infestation – regardless of how much time your dog might spend outside.

It might take some trial and error to find the perfect pill for your individual pet. In families with multiple dogs, there’s a brilliant chance that each dog might need or do well with one particular brand vs. What his housemates take.

Years ago, the first type of pill came on the market – once which needed to be administered daily. Any dog owner knows how hard it is to get a pill into his beloved pet, so researchers finally developed a monthly pill. Of course, this comes with risks because the level of medicine – which is tantamount to poison for the worms – can cause problems in these dosage levels.

Dogs who do take a monthly heartworm pills for dogs frequently experience some toxic side effects which can range from a simple nuisance to life threatening heart palpitations and seizures. The real problem here is that poisons tend to build up in the body and they don’t always cause an immediate reaction.

For pooches who need the pills but do everything possible to avoid them, there are some beef flavored alternatives that even the most fussy are usually more than pleased to gobble up when questioned to.

Whatever you do, never give your dog any type of heartworm medication without consulting with your vet and getting explicit instructions and a prescribed course of action. Because of the inherent levels of toxicity involved with these preparations, you don’t want to cause problems unnecessarily. Don’t try buying these online “without a prescription” and don’t buy generic brands you aren’t familiar with.

One pill may be too much for many dogs. Take for example a toy poodle and a Huskey. It only stands to reason that the poodle would need a lower dose than the Huskey, and therefore, giving the poodle the same pill could quickly cause disastrous side effects. Don’t self prescribe!

Heartworm is delivered by a simple mosquito bite. In geographic areas near water, it’s common to have these diseased mosquitoes all over. The assumption is that all mosquitoes carry the potentially fatal larvae that turn into the troublesome worms once they enter the dog’s bloodstream and grow uncontrollably.

The safest, but by no means simplest, method is to go your family to South Dakota where there are no known cases of heartworm in cats or dogs. If that seems out of the question, the next most effective option is simply to keep mosquitoes away from your dog. Considering we can’t even keep mosquitoes away from us most of the time, this is no simple task. But, we can be very diligent in applying ointments to our pets just as we apply them to ourselves. One trick that seems to work wonders is garlic. Bugs despise garlic, but dogs like it! Add some chopped garlic to each meal – he’ll be pleased and healthy.

Healthy, active dogs have a better chance of warding off the disease even they are bitten. A strong heart and circulation, along with a healthy immune system will prevent the worms from causing any hurt; they won’t be able to grow, and they won’t be able to take up residence in the vital organs like hearts and lungs.

Monthly prescription medication is the real key. It must be applied diligently – on time, in the right amount, in the right place. One tiny mistake could place your dog at risk. The medications are simple to apply really and all you need to do is break open a capsule and squeeze it onto the back of his neck, in an area he can’t reach to lick or scratch. It sinks into the skin and enters the bloodstream immediately.

Many of these preventive medicines prevent not only heartworm but fleas, ticks, their larvae, and other types of worms.

Even though prevention is vital, commonly prescribed, and in many states nearly mandatory for your dog’s health, many dogs suffer serious adverse effects. These medications are strong and if applied to an ill, ancient, or weak dog, you could be causing some serious side effects such as seizures, paralysis or even coma. The problem is that these don’t happen straight away all the time; poisons frequently build up silently in the body and it could months to tell your pet is experiencing some adverse side effects.

Preventive medicines have been around for quite some time and even though they aren’t 100% effective, they indeed do a remarkable job at keeping our pets safe, especially in areas known for high levels of infected mosquito infestations. Monthly treatments involve topical ointments that are usually rubbed onto the back of your dog’s neck where he can’t lick it off, and/or pills that can be taken daily or monthly.

Most medicines are multi-functional, meaning, they work on more than just heartworms. Depending on the medicine it could also be used to prevent roundworms, hookworms, and/or tapeworms, along with being able to kill eggs and larvae and perhaps even ticks.

Don’t reckon that keeping your dog indoors is preventive medicine! Mosquitoes are notorious for going where they aren’t welcome, and our homes aren’t immune from harboring at least one or two of these pesky critters. And that’s all you need to get your dog infected.

Depending on your vet, he may also recommend giving your dogs pills in addition to using the topical ointments. In areas that are near water – where mosquitoes thrive – he may want your dog to be doubly protected. Do as he suggests, but make certain you don’t overmedicate or buy substitute prescriptions that may be cheaper without checking with your vet first.

If your dog has been diagnosed with heartworm, you will now need to give him the heartworm medications that are to cure/treat, rather than prevent. Once your dog has been diagnosed with heartworm, he’s already very sick, and these medications can make him worse. Some dogs have no side effects, others succumb to the side effects. Much like chemotherapy in human cancer patients, these medicines are poisons meant to kill the invading worms and larvae, frequently making the patient sicker before things get better.

It’s hard to get a right reading on how effective these drugs can be because frequently the deaths caused by the drugs are recorded as “death by heartworm” instead of the real culprit. If your vet suggests that you start an aggressive treatment schedule, you need to have a serious discussion with him about possible side effects – especially in your pet – vs. What would happen with no medical intervention.

The symptoms can mask other illnesses or they can be so general that most pet owners may not pay much attention to them. To compound the already serious problem of your dog being infected, symptoms don’t usually occur until your pet’s life is in danger.

The most common symptoms include coughing, vomiting, lethargy, difficulty breathing even when resting, weight loss, and a protruding rib cage. As the disease progresses undetected and untreated, these symptoms will progress in their severity to the point that either there is no doubt what is incorrect with your pet, or the animal collapses and dies without ever being properly diagnosed.

Dog heartworm symptoms can sometimes look like a cold and even when taken to the vet, he may not immediately reckon of anything more serious than a cold or even an allergy.

Even though heartworm is more prevalent with dogs who spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, in climates rife with mosquitoes, it’s not unheard of for indoor dogs to be infected as well. We all know that pesky mosquitoes can easily make their way indoors and all it takes is one bite from one infected mosquito and any dog can be immediately infected.

Smaller dogs are in even worse danger, and their symptoms should always be closely monitored. A cough or bout of diarrhea in a 3 pound teacup Chihuahua can be fatal with or without the added dangers of heartworm. Since heartworms can easily reach about 12 inches long, and dogs can be infected with many at once, smaller dogs have a higher death rate simply because owners and vets alike tend to ignore the coughs and general symptoms until it’s too late.

Since prevention is so aggressively touted and highly recommended, many vets and pet owners simply assume that because they have given their dog the appropriate medication as prescribed, nothing can happen and the dog won’t – or can’t – be infected with heartworm.

This just isn’t right. Even dogs who receive their heart worming medicine as regularly scheduled still are not immune to heart worm. Unfortunately, all it takes is one powerful mosquito bite that is infected with the worm, and the dog can become infected with or without the medication at work in his system.