The Dog Class Notes
Heartworm
I. American Heartworm Society a. The internationall recognized authority for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dirofilariasis b. Web page: heartwormsociety.org II. Canine Heartworm c. Dirofilaria immitis is the dog heartowmr d. These are usually large worms roughly the size of a strand of cooked spaghetti e. Transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitos f. Infects the pulmonary arterial system and right heart i. Grow from pulmonary arteries into the right side of the heart III. Heartworm g. Primarily a parasite of wild and domestic canids belonging to the genus canis ii. Dog iii. Wolf iv. Coyote IV. Life Cycle h. Mosquito bites infected dog v. In the mosquito 1. Microfilaria L3 (third larva stage) 2. 2-3 weeks i. mosquito bites a second dog an deposits the third stage larvae at the bite site this develops for a few weeks and then molts to the 4th stage where they then migrate to the thorax living between the muscles then 45-60 days after infection they molt to 5th stage (sexually immature) then they enter the bloodstream and enter the pulmonary arteries monthly preventative kill 3rd and 4th stage = BUT NOT very effective against 5th stage (adults living in pulmonary arteries)
30-60 days vi. in the dog 3. L3 adult worm microfilaria 4. 6 months 5. ` V. Clinical Signs of Heartworm in Dogs j. Nothing vii. This is most of the time k. With heavy infections of with dogs that get a lot of exercise you see… viii. Exercise intolerance ix. Weight loss x. Following close behin….Chronic cough l. With severe infections… xi. Ascites (fluid build up in the abdomen) – which is secondary to heart failure xii. Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) xiii. When you see
I. American Heartworm Society a. The internationall recognized authority for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dirofilariasis b. Web page: heartwormsociety.org II. Canine Heartworm c. Dirofilaria immitis is the dog heartowmr d. These are usually large worms roughly the size of a strand of cooked spaghetti e. Transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitos f. Infects the pulmonary arterial system and right heart i. Grow from pulmonary arteries into the right side of the heart III. Heartworm g. Primarily a parasite of wild and domestic canids belonging to the genus canis ii. Dog iii. Wolf iv. Coyote IV. Life Cycle h. Mosquito bites infected dog v. In the mosquito 1. Microfilaria L3 (third larva stage) 2. 2-3 weeks i. mosquito bites a second dog an deposits the third stage larvae at the bite site this develops for a few weeks and then molts to the 4th stage where they then migrate to the thorax living between the muscles then 45-60 days after infection they molt to 5th stage (sexually immature) then they enter the bloodstream and enter the pulmonary arteries monthly preventative kill 3rd and 4th stage = BUT NOT very effective against 5th stage (adults living in pulmonary arteries)
30-60 days vi. in the dog 3. L3 adult worm microfilaria 4. 6 months 5. ` V. Clinical Signs of Heartworm in Dogs j. Nothing vii. This is most of the time k. With heavy infections of with dogs that get a lot of exercise you see… viii. Exercise intolerance ix. Weight loss x. Following close behin….Chronic cough l. With severe infections… xi. Ascites (fluid build up in the abdomen) – which is secondary to heart failure xii. Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) xiii. When you see