Dogs with heartworm disease often feel weaker, and low-energy because the worms are putting an extra load on the heart and lungs, and that can affect energy levels and the movement of oxygen throughout the body.
Dogs can suffer from a variety of health conditions and illnesses, but one of the scariest is heartworm. Heartworm is a parasite that is spread through infected mosquitos and can cause serious damage to your pup’s heart and lungs if left untreated. One symptom of heartworm is fatigue and drowsiness, but many pet owners wonder, “Does heartworm make dogs sleepy?” In this blog post, we will discuss the symptoms and causes of heartworm, and how it can affect the energy levels of your pup. We will also discuss possible treatments for heartworm and how to prevent it from occurring. Understanding heartworm and its effects is an important part of keeping your pup healthy, so read on to learn more.
When Should Dogs Be Tested for Heartworms?
Heartworm testing for dogs should be done regularly during preventative medical visits. A good rule of thumb for when to have your dog get a heartworm test is provided below:
Even for dogs receiving year-round prevention, routine heartworm testing is necessary to ensure the drug is working. Although heartworm medication is typically effective, there is a slight chance that your dog could contract the disease because of things like vomiting the pill or rubbing away the topical medication.
Remember that the sooner we identify a heartworm infection, the more likely we are to be able to save your dog’s life if they are exhibiting heartworm disease symptoms. To learn more about heartworm prevention, detection, and treatment, contact our office right away. Search for:
When do I start my dog on heartworm prevention?
Puppies have an equal chance of contracting heartworm disease as do adult animals. Puppies should begin taking a heartworm preventive as soon as the product label permits, but no later than 8 weeks of age, according to the American Heartworm Society.
A heartworm medication’s dosage is determined by body weight rather than age. In the first few months of life, puppies grow quickly, and the rate of growth—especially in dogs—varieties greatly from breed to breed. Therefore, a young animal can quickly put on enough weight to move from one dosage range to the next. Consult your veterinarian for guidance on predicting when a dosage adjustment will be necessary. If a dosage change is anticipated for your pet’s monthly preventive, you might want to buy just one or two doses at once (keep in mind that dogs older than 6 months can receive a sustained-release injectable preventive). In order to stay on top of all health issues, including heartworm prevention, make sure to bring your pet in for every scheduled well-puppy exam. Weighing your pet at each visit will help you ensure that you are administering the proper dosage of heartworm prevention.
How is heartworm disease transmitted from one pet to another?
The mosquito is crucial to the life cycle of the heartworm. Microfilaria, tiny baby worms produced by adult female heartworms infected dogs, foxes, coyotes, or wolves, circulate in the bloodstream. These tiny worms are picked up by a mosquito when it bites and draws blood from an infected animal. Over the course of 10 to 14 days, they grow and mature into “infective stage” larvae. The infectious larvae are then left on the skin of the new host and enter through the bite wound of the infected mosquito when it bites a different dog, cat, or susceptible wild animal. The larvae develop into adult heartworms inside a new host after about six months. Heartworms can survive once they reach adulthood for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats. Due to these worms’ long lifespan, an infected pet may develop an increasing number of worms with each passing season of mosquitoes.
FAQ
Do dogs with heartworms sleep a lot?
In addition to nosebleeds and pneumonia, heartworms can also result in high blood pressure, seizures, blindness, and excessive sleeping.
Does heartworm medicine make dogs sleepy?
Some dogs may experience serious adverse reactions from heartworm preventatives, such as depression, lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, dilated pupils, loss of balance, staggering, convulsions, and hypersalivation.
How does a dog feel with heartworms?
Heartworm disease symptoms in the later stages Your pet’s lack of appetite, dry cough, and lethargic behavior will be noticeable. However, as the disease progresses, these symptoms worsen and your pet will start to experience more complications.
What are the final stages of heartworms in dogs?
Not all dogs with heartworm disease develop into stage 4. However, if heartworm disease is not treated, it will worsen and harm the dog’s heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, ultimately leading to death.