What are the clinical signs of heartworm disease?
Heartworms may cause dysfunction affecting blood
circulation, heart, liver and kidneys. Heart and lung
are the most common organs that can contain heartworms.
Often, dogs do not show signs of heart worm disease for
up to two years. When the disease is recognized, it is
often well advanced. Below is a list of dog heartworm
symptoms that are common if heartworms in dogs are
present:
| Acute
Heartworm Disease |
No
abnormal clinical signs are observed in dogs
with acute heartworm disease. |
| Mild
Heartworm Disease |
Your
dog may have a cough. |
| Moderate
Heartworm Disease |
Signs
of a moderate heartworm disease are exercise
intolerance, cough and abnormal lung sounds. |
| Severe
Heartworm Disease |
Typical
dog heartworm symptoms are exercise intolerance,
cough, breathing difficulties (dyspnea),
abnormal lung sounds, enlargement of the liver
(hepatomegaly), temporary loss of consciousness
due to poor blood flow to the brain (syncope),
fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
(ascites), abnormal heart sounds, weight loss,
loss of stamina and death. |
It is important that you visit a qualified
veterinarian if your pet shows these dog heartworm
symptoms. |
