Monthly Archives: September 2017

0 Heartworm Prevention: Whose Fault When Your Dog Has Heartworms And What You Can Do About It

Heartworm Prevention: Whose Fault When Your Dog Has Heartworms And What You Can Do About It

I was greeted by this headline online:  “My dog has a seriously expensive medical condition, but I would never consider abandoning him because of it.”

Her dog tested positive for heartworm and I understand how expensive it is. Bless her for pushing with the treatment and not abandoning her fur baby!

I wish I can reach out to as many as possible pet parents to let you know that Heartworm is Preventable.  Prevention is cheaper than going through the treatment, plus it is less agonizing for your dog.

In this series of articles on Heartworm In The Philippines, I will share the simplest and most affordable mode of prevention.  But first allow me to describe what your fur baby will go through when he is tested positive for heartworm.

Stages of Heartworm Disease In The Philippines

Dogs diagnosed with Stage 1 or 2 of Heartworm disease may have slow heartbeat, fever, dry cough, feel listless and congested lungs.  Once diagnosed, he undergoes full treatment to get rid of adult heartworms.

Read on my blog about the symptoms in order to check if your dog has heartworm.

If your pet dog is diagnosed with Stage 3 to 5, it means his heart and pulmonary arteries are “loaded” with heartworms and a more immediate treatment is prescribed.

Stage 5 Heartworm Disease

One pet owner with infested dog described Day 1 of the treatment.  

“He slept all day and yelped in pain when he tried to move.  The first few weeks were a blur of coughing, vomiting and diarrhea (those dead worms have to leave his body somehow).”

Next treatments will be painful, as well.  He will not be allowed to run around or even walk fast during the treatment weeks. If he gets excited, the blood pumping through his arteries could force the decomposing worm parts into a logjam, block his arteries and cause a stroke or embolism.

At this stage, pet parents would often feel guilty for not doing enough for their dogs.  They would blame themselves.

Let me tell you this, It’s Not You, it’s the infested mosquito who did it!  So quit blaming yourself and start thinking PREVENTION!  Read how my friend learned this painful lesson here:  Heartworm and A Warning:  Do Not Read While Eating

Heartworm Prevention In The Philippines:  What You Can Do

Here at Makati Dog and Cat Hospital, heartworm prevention starts with 3 simple steps:

1. Have your dog undergo heartworm testing once a year.
   Annual heartworm testing followed by preventive medication is recommended to keep your dog free of heartworm disease.
2. For your peace of mind, consider having a yearly heartworm injection.  For busy pet parents, Vets recommend Proheart 12.
   Once a year injection eliminates the need to remember monthly heartworm tablets and it can safely be combined with your pet’s vaccination or annual check-up.
   Best of all, the injection is quick vs. the agony of forcing the chewable treatment every month!
3. Start early with your heartworm prevention!
   Mosquitoes are prevalent in the Philippines and remember, it only takes ONE Mosquito Bite to result to Heartworm.  Start early! Proheart 12 can be given to puppies as young as 6 months old.

For pet parents who still need a little convincing, for the first time, I’ll reveal the costs involved on prevention vs. cure.

Heartworm preventive starts at P1,350 for dogs weighing up to 5 kilos

If you are serious about PREVENTION, there’s ONE LAST STEP that you need to do:  Call Ms. Mylez @ 896-2860 and ask about the Heartworm Test.  More importantly, ask about Proheart SR-12 Prevention.

Enjoy peace of mind,

Dr. Sixto Carlos, DVM, MS
Pet Happiness Expert
Makati Dog and Cat Hospital

Serving Pet Parents near Mandaluyong, Makati, and BGC

“The St. Luke’s of Pet Hospitals” – from a Happy Client

P.S.  Heartworm Prevention is Cheaper Vs. Treatment.  Call Ms. Mylez @ 896-2860 and ask about Proheart 12.

If you want to educate yourself about Heartworm In The Philippines, here are your MUST READ articles:

Heartworm and A Warning:  Do Not Read While Eating
Heartworm in the Philippines:  How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Heartworm?
Whose Fault When Your Dog Has Heartworms And What You Can Do About It

0 Heartworm Symptoms in the Philippines:  How Do You Know If Your Pet Dog Has Heartworm?

Heartworm Symptoms in the Philippines:  How Do You Know If Your Pet Dog Has Heartworm?

It only takes 1 bite from an infected mosquito for your pet dog to have heartworm.  Now,  you live in a tropical country, like the Philippines, where mosquitoes thrive. Could it be that you pet dog have heartworm?

Does your pet dog have heartworm? Time for you to find out.

Does your pet dog …

Have dry cough?

Get tired easily?

Experience difficulty in breathing?

Watch out!  Your pet dog may be displaying some of the most common tell-tale warning signs of heartworm infection! These thin, innocent looking white worms infect one of the most important organs in the body: the heart.

Do you live in a place where mosquitos are prevalent? Then you have to watch out for these 3 symptoms of heartworm infection in your dogs:

Heartworm Symptom #1: Your Dog Has Dry Cough

The presence of parasites in your dog’s body causes coughing. The coughing is mild and your dog may appear to look normal.

If you observe your dog, the soft cough will be more noticeable after an exercise or any physical activity.

Please take note that at this stage, heartworms may not yet reach adult stage.  So even if you bring your dog to the vet for a blood test, his test result will most likely be negative.

Heartworm Symptom #2: Your Dog Gets Easily Gets Tired

As the heartworms progress in their development in your dog’s body, you will see that the dog easily gets tired. Even after the usual walk or exercise, your dog may seem exhausted. It may even come to a point that your dog will refuse to do much of the physical activity.

This should be an indication that the heartworms are furthering their infection. If you bring your pet to the vet, blood tests should detect the heartworms.

Heartworm Symptom #3: Your Dog Experiences Difficulty in Breathing

When the heartworms are affecting the lungs and the surrounding veins, your dog will have trouble breathing. At this stage, there is possibility of fluid building around the blood vessels in the lungs. Blood oxygenation will be difficult for the lungs to do.

Coughing and fatigue will get worse. Heartworms have grown and can easily be seen with an X-ray.

Other Heartworm Symptoms

Heartworm, if not treated, will continue to damage the dog’s organs. Other heartworm symptoms that your dog will have in the last stage of heartworm infection are weight loss, bulging chest, and lameness.

If your dog is experiencing these last three symptoms in addition to the first three, this tells you that the heartworm has peaked into adulthood.

It is during this time that the heartworms spread into the heart and bloodstream. Then they block the flow of blood. Your dog will have episodes of collapsing. As the parasites move to the dog’s brain this will result to blindness, lameness and seizures. This can be fatal to your dog.

NEVER treat your dog on your own. Treating your dog by yourself will most likely worsen the heartworm infestation. Always consult your veterinarian.

Here are 3 ACTION POINTS for Pet Parents:  

1. Talk to your pet’s vet about yearly heartworm tests

2. Consult your Vet about the best and hassle free preventive

3. Ask your Vet about ProHeart SR-12

ProHeart SR-12 is an injectible that can be given once a year to protect your dog’s heart and lungs from heartworm.  This is designed to smart and busy pet lovers like you.

In my previous post, I compared the cost of heartworm prevention vs. treatment.  If you are curious how much it will cost you if your pet dog will not have ProHeart SR-12 now, watch out for my next blog post!  

Now, if you are really serious about protecting your pet dog from heartworm and enjoying peace of mind, call Ms. Mylez at 896-2860 Now!

Enjoy peace of mind,

Dr. Sixto Carlos, DVM
Pet Happiness Expert
Makati Dog and Cat Hospital

Serving Pet Parents near Mandaluyong, Makati, and BGC

“The St. Luke’s of Pet Hospitals” – from a Happy Client

For responsible pet parents who want to see how heartworm look inside the body of your pet dog, head over my post:  Heartworm and A Warning:  Do Not Read While Eating 

Here’s our series of articles on heartworm in the Philippines:

Heartworm and A Warning:  Do Not Read While Eating
Heartworm in the Philippines:  How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Heartworm?
Humans and Heartworm Health

Coming Next:  Whose Fault When Your Dog Has Heartworm And What You Can Do About It

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0 Heartworm Philippines: Warning!  Do Not Read While Eating

Heartworm Philippines

It’s the start of “ber” months, there’s more “walang pasok” announcements, and finally we are experiencing the rain … and flood!

We all know that the combination of rain, flood, and stagnant water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.  But did you know that just ONE MOSQUITO BITE can lead to  this …

Whoa!  How can one mosquito bite can lead to these white 12-inch strings?
I hope you are not eating but you’ve been warned!  Let’s take a closer look …

These seemingly harmless white threads are actually parasitic worms!

These seemingly harmless white thin threads are actually round parasitic worms that can be found inside the heart and lungs of infected dogs.

Wikipedia describes these as:

“Dirofilaria immitis, the heartworm or dog heartworm, is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes … Adults reside in the pulmonary arterial system (lung arteries), as well as the heart … Heartworm infection may result in serious disease for the host, with death typically as the result of congestive heart failure.

Heartworm Philippines: What You Can Do

I’m a Veterinarian and a Parasitologist. I have a special interest on heartworm.   As an expert Parasitologist, I am conducting lectures on heartworm detection and prevention to Veterinarians all over the Philippines.

In the US, 50 states have been diagnosed with heartworm. Here in the Philippines, we started The Philippine Canine Heartworm Mapping Project.  

After reading this email, you may take a moment to show your support by simply visiting and liking our Facebook Page:  The Philippine Canine Heartworm Mapping Project

When you visit our Facebook Page: The Philippine Canine Heartworm Mapping Project, you might see your favorite Vets submitting blood samples for the Philippine Canine Heartworm Mapping Project.

We encourage veterinarians to send blood samples and base on these, we can determine the extent of presence of Heartworm in the Philippines.

With heartworm as one of the deadliest silent killers of dogs, we have to be vigilant in its treatment and control.

Heartworm Philippines: One Of The Deadliest Silent Killers of  Pet Dogs

As the incidence of heartworm in the Philippines grows, I have decided to write a series of articles aimed at equipping responsible parents like you with the right information and best mode of prevention for your pet dog.

Please watch out for my next emails on heartworm in the Philippines.

Before I end this email, allow me to share what your Vets actually see inside the heart and pulmonary arteries of a pet dog who is severely infested with heartworm …

This is one photo that I personally took when my friend’s dog died after testing positive with heartworm.  The death of their beloved pet devastated their family.

So, please educate yourself.  Watch out for my next emails on heartworm in the Philippines and what you can do to prevent it.

My friend learned one painful lesson:  it only takes ONE BITE from an infected mosquito to spread heartworm in your beloved pet dogs.

Enjoy peace of mind,

Dr. Sixto Carlos, DVM
Pet Happiness Expert
Makati Dog and Cat Hospital
Serving Pet Parents near Mandaluyong, Makati, and BGC

“The St. Luke’s of Pet Hospitals” – from a Happy Client

Photo sources:

http://www.animalcafe.co/
http://www.ascaris.medicnew.com/images/114a19.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirofilaria_immitis
http://countrysideanimalhospitaldeland.com