What Is Canine Heartworm (Courtesy of SPCA Singapore)
Heartworm disease in dogs is a slow chronic condition due to infection with large roundworms called Dirofilaria immitis. The infected animals do not show any signs of illness until the condition is advanced and organ damage occurs.Adult male and female heartworms live in the dog's heart and adjacent large blood vessels. The female releases microfilariae into the dog's circulating blood stream. These larvae are ingested by mosquitoes as they take a blood meal. They will infect another dog when the mosquito takes another blood meal. They migrate from the skin to various tissues until they reach the heart and develop into the adult worms. This developmental period takes six months. Canine Heartworm Disease is very common in South East Asia. Early detection is essential for early treatment and prevention by a blood test.
Very Important - A blood test must be carried out BEFORE starting heartworm prevention. Most heartworm-infected dogs can be successfully treated if the condition is diagnosed early.
Prevention & Control : a) Control mosquitoes by screening and spraying; avoid keeping stagnant water and rubbish around; b) Preventative medications include once a month prevention tablets, or once a year injection.
What is Feline Heartworm (Courtesy of petplace.com)
Feline heartworm disease is spread from dog to cat by mosquitoes. The mosquito bites a dog with heartworm infection, collects some of the microscopic heartworm offspring, and then after a couple of weeks, passes these on to another dog or to a cat. When compared to dogs, cats are naturally resistant to heartworm disease (estimated at about one-fifth as likely to become seriously infected as dogs in the same region); however, heartworm disease in cats is often more severe than in dogs. The presence of even a single adult heartworm in a cat can result in very serious consequences. Heartworm infection in cats can be difficult to diagnose. Blood tests are available, but the results may sometimes be misleading.
Very Important - Speak to your veterinarian about the details for preventative therapy. Some recommend that before beginning heartworm prevention, any cat over 7 months of age should first have a heartworm blood test.
Prevention & Control: a) Do NOT use your canine heartworm medicine in your cat! The drug dosing is very different between species.; b) Preventative medications include once a month prevention tablets, or once a month topical application.
Heartworm in small animals - Rabbits, guinea pigs & hamsters are not as susceptible to heartworm as compared to dogs and cats.
