They should be given once a month, all year-round. Examples include: Heartworm preventative medications are safe and highly effective. How can heartworm infections be prevented? However, heartworms can be found in all 50 states and in Canada. In the United States, they are most commonly diagnosed in the Southeast and along the Mississippi River Valley. Heartworms can be found in countries all around the world. The worms start producing new microfilaria around 6-9 months after infection, and the adult heartworms can survive in dogs for 5-7 years. Males can reach 5-6 inches in length, and females can reach 10-12 inches in length. The larva settle in those organs and grow into worms. As the mosquitoes continue to feed on more dogs, they then inject the mature larva into dogs’ tissues, starting a new infection.Īfter the larva enter a dog’s body, they migrate through tissues and eventually enter the bloodstream, which allows them to travel to the heart and lungs. ![]() While the microfilaria are living inside the mosquitoes, they mature into larva. Immature heartworms, called microfilaria, are ingested by female mosquitoes when feeding on infected dogs. Heartworms are caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. ![]() While heartworm disease can be life-threatening, there are effective treatment options for established heartworm infections, and strict rest during the treatment period is critical to recovery.ĭomestic dogs (and some wild canids) are the definitive host for heartworms, but other animals, including cats and ferrets, can also be infected. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, but infections can be prevented by using routine medications.
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