Symptoms of heartworm disease in dogs

1. Chronic mild cough appears in the early stage, severe coughing during exercise, and easy fatigue and gasping for breath during exercise;
2. As the disease progresses, The dog begins to have hyperpalpitations, a weak and intermittent pulse, and murmurs in the heart; hepatomegaly and pain on palpation; fluid accumulation in the chest and abdominal cavity, and general edema; breathing becomes increasingly difficult;
3. Caused by long-term infection If left untreated, pulmonary heart disease will become more obvious;
4. In the final stage, dogs will die due to general weakness or collapse during exercise;
5. In addition, sick dogs often Accompanying nodular dermatosis.

Treatment of heartworm disease in dogs

1. Kill adult worms: intravenously inject sodium arsenite at a dose of 22 mg/kg body weight, twice a day for two consecutive days. Intravenous injections should be given slowly and fluid should not leak out of the blood vessels to prevent tissue inflammation and necrosis. Or use dichlorobenzene arsenic hydrochloride at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight, intravenously, once every 4-5 days. This drug has a strong repellent effect and low toxicity.

2. To drive away microfilariae: Use levamidazole at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight, orally, for 15 days. Test the blood after the 6th day of treatment. When no microfilariae can be detected in the blood, stop treatment. Or use ivermectin (trade name: Harmicide), the dosage is 0.05~0.1 mg/kg body weight, one intradermal injection; or use fenthion, subcutaneously inject 0.2 ml of 7% solution per kilogram body weight, for the necessary time Repeat 1-2 times every 2 weeks. Symptomatic treatment should also be carried out according to the condition

Methods to prevent heartworm disease in dogs

1. Indoor mosquito protection
1. Install screens on doors and windows
Xiao Ming suggested that you can install screens on the doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from flying into the house. Of course, the cost is slightly higher, but in addition to being beneficial to dogs, I think you poop scavengers are also annoyed by mosquitoes in summer, right? Therefore, we can give priority to this measure that is beneficial to humans and dogs.
2. Indoor mosquito killer lamp
Don’t use mosquito coils and insecticides. After all, they are harmful. It is recommended to install a mosquito killer lamp in the room. Turn off the lights in the evening and turn on a mosquito killer lamp. The effect is good. oh!
3. Clean frequently
Regularly clean the dead spots in the room to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. The dog’s nest should also be disinfected and cleaned regularly to prevent the growth of lice.
2. Outdoor mosquito protection
When dogs go out, they are actually in a state of exercise, so the probability of being bitten by mosquitoes is actually very low. However, to be on the safe side, you can also take precautions for your dog. As a measure, it is recommended to spray some mosquito repellent (for pets only) on your dog when you go out, and pay attention to its effective time. If you go out for a long time, you need to replenish it regularly.
ps. Try not to go near the grass, especially in summer, there are countless mosquitoes!
3. Regular inspections
Xiao Ming would like to remind you that dogs older than 6 months old need to be screened for adult worms before they can be treated with medication.There are already adult worms in the body and microfilariae have reproduced. Blindly injecting a dog heart without screening may be fatal, because the dead heartworms may be blocked from being eliminated from the heart and lungs. blood circulation. Therefore, it is recommended that dog owners should regularly screen their dogs for adult worms before using medication, twice a year.