Heartworm diseases are prevalent throughout the US. However, statistics show it is more prevalent in southern states. Interestingly, a dog will contract heartworms through an infected mosquito. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to pass heartworms to your dog. If you have more than one dog, heartworms cannot be transmitted from one infected dog to another. An infected mosquito could certainly transmit the disease to both dogs.

Heartworms do not always manifest symptoms in the early stages. However, if left unattended and untreated, heartworms can cause sudden and unexpected death. 

Signs of Heartworms

When heartworms begin to display symptoms, these are the typical signs you will notice:

• A persistent cough
• Fatigue
• A decrease in appetite
• Loss of weight

If your dog exhibits any of these signs, please contact us (706-568-4848) immediately for an appointment. We will perform lab tests such as a complete blood count and urinalysis. If we discover that your dog does have heartworms, we will begin treatment to eradicate the heartworms from your dog. Typical treatment will last for several months. During that time, we will monitor your dog’s progress to ensure your dog is completely free of heartworms.

After treatment, we will usually keep your dog on heartworm preventatives to prevent re-infection.

Regular check-ups for your dog help to ensure they are not infected with heartworms. Call us today (706-568-4848) if you suspect your dog may have heartworms or to schedule a regular check-up for your dog.