Common Questions About Heartworms

The most common question concerning heart worms is can it be cured or not? The answer is Yes. It can be treated.  Other common questions are:

 What is the drug used most often for the prevention of heart worms in dogs?   Ivermectin is the drug that is used  most often to prevent heart worms.

What are the symptoms of heartworms?   Dogs affected with heartworms have a constant cough, panting and little energy.

 What are the size of the worms?  In the case of the females, it is about twenty-seven centimeters and in the case of males, it is about seventeen centimeters in length.

How are heartworms transmitted to dogs?  Mosquito bites are the most common way that  heartworms are transmitted to dogs.  This occurs through out the world. In some areas, the incidences are less in colder months in which the mosquito breeding will not be there and may be dormant during these periods.

Is the drug used to prevent hearworms meant only for heart worms or for others also?  The drug given to dogs to prevent heartworms is meant also to prevent hook worms, whip worms, and round worms.  

 What is the name of the drug used to treat heartworms? Ivermectin and milbemycin oxime may be used for both prevention and treatment of heartworms. Ivermectin is available in injection form and oral form.  There are also forms for external application available. The cost can be a factor for which treatment is chosen.

How often is a heartworm prevention drug given to a dog? One month before mosquito season begins and up to two months after the mosquito season, ivermectin or milbemycin oxime may be given once monthly for prevention of heartworms.