SYMPTOMS OF HEARTWORM IN CANINES
No commentsBy Maral Heggemeier
Heartworms are serious in dogs so I will get right to the point of symptoms of heartworm in canines.
SYMPTOMS OF HEARTWORM IN CANINES
Breathing difficulties
Coughing
Vomiting
Weight loss
Collapse
Convulsions
Sudden death
Tiredness
Decreased appetite
Heart failure
Difficulty exercising
Bloody sputum
Loss of consciousness
Abnormal lung sounds
May take years after initial infection to show up
HEARTWORM DIAGNOSIS
Vets will normally perform the test
Usually diagnosed with a blood test
You are obviously smart enough to know that if your dog is showing symptoms of heartworm in canines you need to treat the problem. I am going to list the most common medications used and then we will discuss some alternatives.
HEARTWORM MEDICATIONS PREVENTION
Revolution This is a broad spectrum medication that has been reported to be the top of the list for dogs. This medication also protects your dog from flea infestations.
Interceptor This medication is reported to prevent heartworms, hookworms, whipworm, and roundworms.
Heartgard This medication is widely available that prevents heartworms, hookworms and roundworms. Very few side effects have been reported with this medication.
Iverhart Max This medication is used for heartworms and tapeworms. There do not seem to be many reported side effects with this medication.
Active ingredient in Heartgard and Iverhart is ivermectin. The active ingredient in Interceptor is milbemycin and the active ingredient in Revolution is selamectin oxime. These medications work as a preventative in the sense they are actually using chemicals to kill off heartworms in their early stages. So while some say they are preventative they are also treatment.
If your pet has shown the symptoms of heartworm in canines then here is what happens.
TREATMENT ONCE YOUR PET HAS HEARTWORMS
Several drugs were given by veterinarians in the past but not so much today. Today the treatment usually involves injecting a drug containing arsenic. The injection is given in the lower back. Two injections a day for two days is the normal treatment. After the injections your pet will be prescribed rest in order to absorb the dead heartworms.
As promised here are some alternatives to consider.
ALTERNATIVE PREVENTION FOR HEARTWORMS
Because many veterinarians now recognize that long term use of preventative medications can cause side effects in our pets many people are turning to alternative methods to prevent heartworms. The methods will help overall but you should discuss using them with your vet.
Provide a healthy diet. Many people are now avoiding commercial pet food and feeding their pets natural vegetables, fruits, and raw meat
Boost your pets immune system
Strengthen your pets heart and circulatory system
In areas where heartworms are prevalent think about regular de-worming
Black walnut extract and garlic are also being used as preventatives
Prevention is much cheaper than treatment at the vets office
Some people are even using garlic as a preventative
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Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 2:10 am and is filed under animals articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
