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Heartworm Symptoms
Dog heartworm is a common disease among canines in the United States. Discovered in 1856, the worms mainly live in your dog's heart and major blood vessels.
The worms, especially on worst cases, seriously impair the heart's operations. Worse, they could also clog your dog's blood vessels. These infections result in loss of body weight, chronic cough, dropsy, shortness of breath, chronic heart failure, vision disturbances, and ultimately death.
Since heartworm symptoms vary among dogs, it's best to have a veterinarian check your dog to provide a final analysis. Early treatment of heartworm is vital.
Most dogs show visible symptoms only when the disease has reached the point where it would be almost impossible to be cured by treatment. To help you see early symptoms and to hopefully save your dog, look out for these signs:
- Dogs that have been quite active usually tend to tire easily.
- Dogs that otherwise appear healthy usually gasp for breath.
- Your dog may develop a cough.
- Dogs bred for hunting may no longer keep up with rapid chases and usually fall from exhaustion.
- In some rare instances, the dog experiences convulsions, jaundice, and vision problems.
- Death is typically preceded by emaciation.
Learn about heartworm treatment
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