Host Todd Allyn

Canine and Feline Heartworm Disease Important information and facts that could save your pets life   Heartworm Life Cycle Heartworm disease refers to the condition caused by the parasite Microfilariae amities. The parasite is carried by the mosquito and most commonly affects dogs and cats. Heartworms are parasites that invade your pet’s circulatory system and heart. The life cycle of the heartworm begins when adults measuring as long as 12 inches produce offspring called microfilariae, which circulate in the bloodstream of infected pets. Microfilariae are not immediately infective. An infected dog or cat cannot directly transmit the disease to another pet. Mosquitoes feed on infected pets and serve as hosts to the microfilariae as they mature for about 2 weeks before they can transmit the heartworm larvae to healthy pets with 1 bite. Once an infective bite occurs the larvae migrate to through your pet’s tissue and circulatory system to the heart and associated large blood vessels of the lungs where they grow, mature into adult worms, and begin producing their own microfilariae.  Adult worms may live 2-3 years in cats and 5-7 years in dogs. Cats usually have 1-2 worms at a time while dogs can have 1-200 worms that circulate in their heart and associated large vessels. Is my pet at risk? Yes, all pets are at risk of contracting this deadly disease. Breed, sex, or age does not affect your pet’s susceptibility to heartworms.  Dogs get heartworm more often than cats. Nearly 100% of all dogs and 60-90% of cats that are exposed to heartworm become infected by the disease.   While pets that spend a lot of time outdoors may be at increased risk for the disease, any pet is at risk since mosquitoes can occasionally get indoors.  Heartworm disease is found in nearly all regions of the United States and Canada.  How do I know if my pet is infected? Diagnosis of heartworm disease is as simple as a blood test that your veterinarian can do in the office during regular health visits. There are several signs that may indicate if your pet has become infected with heartworm disease. These signs include, sudden weight loss, development of a rough hair coat, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, easily tires, listless or weakness.  Most of these symptoms are most noticeable after exercise since the heartworms clog main blood supplies, reducing blood flow to major organs such as lungs and liver.  Severe signs of heart disease may include heart failure, labored breathing, or death. What can I do to prevent heartworm disease? There are numerous preventatives, that when administered properly, are very effective for both dogs and cats including monthly chewable and topical applications.  These preventatives work by interrupting the life cycle of the heartworm before they can develop into an adult. It is best to talk to your veterinarian to determine the most appropriate preventative treatment for your pet. Heartworm prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive. While treatment for heartworm disease in dogs is possible, it is a complicated and expensive process, taking weeks for infected animals to recover. There is no effective treatment for heartworm disease in cats, so it is imperative that disease prevention measures be taken for cats. Should I have my dogs heartworm tested yearly? Yes, yearly heartworm testing is recommended to help keep your pet healthy and identify potential positive pets early to ensure the greatest success with treatment. Is there a treatment of infected pets? While effective and expensive treatments are available for dogs, there is currently no approved treatment for cats.  Therapy for infected pets can also be deadly. Talk to your veterinarian about specific treatments protocols and the risks factors for your pet if he were to become infected. Statistics show more than 95 percent of dogs with heartworm disease are treated successfully. For more information about heartworm disease and prevention contact your veterinarian or visit the American Heartworm Association website at http://www.heartwormsociety.org or the Companion Animal Parasite Counsel at http://www.petsandparasites.org

Dr. Adam Hechko, D.V.M.  is an featured contributor to FEBN and can be consulted at the North Royalton Animal Hospital 440-237-8257

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FEBN is a Multi Media Enterprise designed to approach the myriad of financial and political issues that affect our communities as well as people around the world.  FEBN presents current, controversial and essential in a concise and informative manner. The basis of the shows will focus on current events, and how to apply basic economics in today's financially turbulent world. The network is designed to inform, entertain, and empower listeners.

Professor Todd Allyn, with co-host, Professor W. Paul Borkowski,  can be heard weekly

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