 |
Standard Poodles - Heartworms
Heartworms are a common disease in Standard Poodles in the United States. The dog is infected with the worms from the bite of a mosquito. When they mature, they produce thousands of baby worms that circulate throughout the body. These baby worms are sucked up by a mosquito and passed on to another dog, and so the cycle continues! Heartworms are about six inches long. They live mostly in the heart, which can seriously impair the heart’s operation. They can also clog the large blood vessel that brings blood from the lungs to the heart. Unfortunately, there are usually no symptoms until the disease is in its advanced stages. The symptoms are the same as congestive heart failure: weight loss, chronic cough, breathing difficulty, lethargy, dropsy, vision problems, dull coat and fainting. It is not advisable to wait for the symptoms to appear before having a veterinarian check your poodle for possible prevention. Can All Dogs Get Heartworms? It used to be thought that only shorthaired dogs were susceptible to getting the worm infections because their coat was easier to penetrate since it is short. This has been found to be untrue. Either long or shorthaired dogs can acquire the infection, as the mosquitoes actually feed on the abdominal region of dogs. This area has less hair. Mosquitoes also feed on the muzzle and ears of dogs as well. Standard Poodles that live unprotected in heartworm prone areas will probably get them. Dogs that only go out in the morning and evening will probably get them as well. If you have to keep your poodle outdoors, it may be a good idea to keep it in a screened in area. There are also mosquito sprays that can be used with limited effect. What are the Treatments for Heartworms? Heartworm infection can be treated if diagnosed early and is usually curable. When starting treatment, a physical exam, lab test and chest x-rays are performed to evaluate the condition of your dog’s heart and lungs. If the condition is severe, surgery may have to be performed to correct the condition. There are two stages to treating heartworms. First, giving a series of injections over a two-day period eliminates the adult worms. When the treatment is finished, the heartworms will be dead or dying, but the heart is still full of worms. The dead worms will break up into tiny pieces small enough for the body to eliminate them. Problems can arise when the tiny pieces plug small arteries in the lungs. Any vigorous activity at this time must be avoided, or it can cause the heart to pump faster and push the dead heartworm into the small blood vessels. After about five weeks, your dog needs to be seen again to get rid of the thousands of baby heartworms in the bloodstream. It will be given its first dose of prevention medication at that time and another dose one month later at home. You Standard Poodle will need plenty of rest during his recovery period, because his heart and lungs are not yet back to normal. He should be kept indoors, on a leash or in an enclosed kennel that prevents vigorous exercise. Treatment costs Heartworm treatment can be rather expensive, but it is a small price to pay for the life of your Poodle. The total cost for routine heartworm treatment, including the pretreatment workup and post treatment follow up, is usually around $500 for a medium sized dog (23 - 44 lbs.) or $600 for a large dog (67-88 lbs.) How Can I Prevent Heartworms? There are a variety of heartworm prevention drugs on the market today, all of which work very well. You can choose a monthly pill, a monthly topical application, or a once every six months injection. In the south where I live, you need to give the medication year round. If you live in a colder climate, you may not have to use it during the winter. Heartworm Testing If you’re anything like me, I often forget to give my Poodles their medicine on time, so I have them tested every year. If you’re diligent about giving the medicine, you can probably have the testing done every two years. Heartworm Medications Listed below are links to a few heartworm preventative medications that you can give your Poodle:
Return to Home Page from Heartworms Page
|
