• The heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis) is a parasite that can be passed from mosquitoes to your dog.

• After your dog has been bitten by the mosquito, the heartworms will travel through your dog's blood system until they reach the heart, but more on this later...

• The parasitic worm is tubular in shape with the male growing up to 23 cm and the female growing slightly longer at 30 cm.

The signs and symptoms of heartworm can take up to six months to manifest and your vet may need to do some tests but it will take some time for the symptoms to appear.

The parasite also not only causes problems in the heart it also causes problems within the liver blood vessels which can also lead to liver failure.

Take immediate action if your dog shows any of the below signs...

• A Mild Cough - This is usually the very first symptom that your dog will show and it's very easy to ignore. 

• Fatigue/Lethargy/Tiredness - Watch for signs that your dog has lost interest in activities that he used to enjoy, he may spent time lying around, refuse to climb the stairs or get really tired very easily.

• Trouble with Breathing - Your dog may start gasping for air or seem very short of breath, take him straight to the vet.

• More Severe Cough - Your dog's cough will have become more severe and come from deep within his body.

• Appetite Loss & Weight Loss - Your dog may start refusing food and has lost weight either very suddenly or over a period of time.

• Jaundice - This is a sign that the liver has been infected, your dog is now very ill and requires immediate surgical intervention from your vet.

• Collapse & Death - This where it becomes too late to save your beloved dog.

Below we have listed some of the treatment that vet's use to kill the parasite and cure your dog.

• Adultcide Therapy - Arsenic is administered in safe amounts to your dog either thiacetarsamide sodium or melarsomine dihydrochloride.

After your dog has received this treatment he will need to exercise thoroughly to stop the blood clotting. After this treatment your dog will have a second stage of treatment...

• Filaricide Therapy - This treatment is to kill the microfilaria, the drugs that are used include milbemycin and ivermectin. It is possible that a third drug is used called levamisole but this also has significant side effects.

Your dog will be blood tested three weeks after the filaricide treatment and if he gets the all clear he will need to start  heartworm preventative program.

Although the side effects and the therapy can be quite severe 95% of dogs that are treated will get the all clear.