How does a dog get a heartworm in the UK?
Heartworms are nasty, and thankfully are not found in the UK. They are transmitted by mosquitos, and are therefore found in warmer countries, such as those in southern Europe. Heartworms reproduce by producing tiny offspring, called microfilaria. These travel around the blood of infected dogs, and are ingested by mosquitoes when they bite and feed.
What kind of worms live in the heart?
Heartworms, called Dirofilaria immitis, are very thin, thread-worms that can reach up to 30cm in length. You won’t see these worms yourself though, as they live within the right side of the heart, and the main artery leading from the heart to the lungs. Heartworms are nasty, and thankfully are not found in the UK.
Can a dog go on holiday with heartworm?
If your dog doesn’t leave the UK, there is no current risk of them being infected by heartworms. However, as Pet Passports become more common, and more dogs travel on holiday with their owners, the number of cases of heartworm diagnosed in the UK is likely to increase.
What happens if you don’t test your dog for heartworm?
A dog may appear healthy on the outside, but on the inside, heartworms may be living and thriving. If a heartworm-positive dog is not tested before starting a preventive, the dog will remain infected with adult heartworms until it gets sick enough to show symptoms. Heartworm preventives do not kill adult heartworms.
What happens if you have heartworm in your pet?
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.
How much does it cost to give a dog heartworm medication?
Although some dog heartworm medications seem expensive, using these preventive treatments is far less expensive than treating an animal with heartworm. Manufacturers typically sell these medications in multidose packages, commonly 6 or 12, but some brands come in packs of 3.
What to do if your dog spits out a heartworm pill?
Even if you give the medication as recommended, your dog may spit out or vomit a heartworm pill—or rub off a topical medication. Heartworm preventives are highly effective, but not 100 percent effective. If you don’t get your dog test, you won’t know your dog needs treatment.
Why do people forget to give their dogs heartworm preventatives?
One reason is, there’s already a serious problem with people forgetting to give their dogs the heartworm preventatives. It’s a universal problem. Now if you use it year-round, and you miss a month, your dog will probably still be protected.
