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

Heartworm in the Philippines How Do You Know If Your 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

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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

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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

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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.

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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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