The potentially fatal disease heartworm disease is brought on by parasitic worms that enter a dog’s body. A mosquito will spread worm larvae to its new host, which is typically another dog, after biting an infected animal. The larvae migrate to various parts of the dog’s body after entering the bloodstream, where they develop into large worms. The dog’s blood vessels, heart, and lungs are the most frequently infected organs. Knowing how to test your dog for heartworms is essential if you have any reason to believe they may be infected before they cause permanent harm.
Before beginning a prevention program, you must understand how to test your dog for heartworms, even if you are unsure the condition exists. Have your dog tested if you live in an area where mosquitoes are a problem. The majority of the time, a veterinarian first collects a small blood sample to check for signs of heartworm infestation.
The heartworm antigen test is one of the most popular blood tests. This examination looks for an antigen produced by an adult female heartworm. It’s crucial to understand that these tests are not error-free. A false negative can happen if the infection is still in the early stages, if there are only a few adult worms present, or if the dog only has male worms.
The microfilarial concentration test, echocardiography, and chest X-rays are additional examinations that are available. A chest X-ray helps determine an infections severity and extent. The dog might experience additional testing if the vet determines that it has heartworms. Anaemia, as well as liver and kidney function, are diagnosed using blood and urine samples.
Can infection be spread directly from one dog to another, from dog to cat, or from a dog to a person?
No. Dogs can only get heartworm from an infected mosquito. No heartworm infection spreads from dog to dog, dog to cat, or dog to person. However, if bitten by an infected mosquito, both cats and dogs are susceptible to contracting heartworm.
How is heartworm disease diagnosed in the dog?
Heartworm disease is usually diagnosed with a simple blood test. Heartworm infection can be identified using two main tests; one of them looks for adult worms and the other for microfilariae.
The American Heartworm Society advises using the Heartworm Antigen Test as the primary method of determining whether or not a person has adult heartworm infection. This test is specific for adult female heartworms. Positive results can be obtained with as few as 1 to 3 adult females in the heart and the antigen is detectable by 612 to 7 months after infection.
Antigen tests will be falsely negative if:
Microfilariae testing: Any positive or “weak” positive antigen test results should be followed up with a microfilariae test. Microfilariae confirm the presence of mature adult worms in the heart and point to the need for a specific treatment to eradicate them. The best tests for detecting microfilariae are called concentration tests. The modified Knotts test, which concentrates the microfilariae by rapidly spinning the sample in a small circle in a centrifuge, is the preferred method of testing. The sample is run through a very fine filter that traps the microfilariae in the filter test, which is another frequent test. Microfilariae are found and identified using a microscope in both tests.
Microfilaria tests may be falsely negative for several reasons including:
This test, which looks for heartworm DNA, is not yet sensitive enough to check for heartworm infection in dogs. However, the DNA-PCR is useful to confirm that microfilariae are Dirofilaria immitis and not another type of blood parasite if there is any doubt regarding their identity.
My dog has heartworms. My vet started her on monthly prevention before he started treatment. Is this OK?
Yes, the American Heartworm Society’s guidelines advise against it. Because dogs with microfilaria (baby worms in the blood that the mosquito picks up when feeding) could potentially have an adverse reaction to the preventive measure, this should be carried out under the close supervision of a veterinarian. While using heartworm preventives off-label for this purpose is acceptable under a veterinarian’s supervision. However, it is crucial that your veterinarian determines the disease’s severity and selects the appropriate preventive measure in accordance. You can protect your dog from contracting a new heartworm infection while it is being treated for the one it already has by starting the prevention program. Additionally, you are preventing mosquitoes from consuming heartworm larvae (microfilaria) from your dog in order to infect other dogs in the future. This method improves the efficacy of treating the current infection.
FAQ
What are the first signs of heartworms in dogs?
A mild persistent cough, resistance to exercise, weariness after moderate activity, a decrease in appetite, and weight loss are possible heartworm disease symptoms. Pets with advanced heartworm disease may experience heart failure and develop a swollen belly from an excess of fluid in the abdomen.
How much does it cost to test a dog for heartworms?
Booster shots typically cost between $18 and $25. Heartworm Test: This yearly examination looks for the serious and potentially fatal condition known as heartworm disease, which is brought on by parasitic worms. Blood testing for this disease generally costs $45-$50.
Can you test for heartworm at home?
An easy-to-use ELISA test kit for the detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen in canines and felines is the DiroCHEK Canine Heartworm Antigen Test Kit.
Can heartworm in dogs be cured?
The good news is that the majority of infected dogs can be successfully treated, which is something no one wants to hear about their dog having heartworm. If your dog is exhibiting symptoms of a disease, the objective is to stabilize him first before killing all adult and immature worms with the least amount of side effects possible.