How Can Heartworm Disease Be Diagnosed?
Your veterinarian can detect the presence of
heartworms by conducting a blood test. Two tests are
commonly carried out.
A filtration test can determine
whether microfilariae is present in your pet's blood
stream. Sometimes, a pet can be infected by heartworms
without microfilariae being present in the dog.
This is
most commonly the case in single sex heartworm
infections. For this reason, most vets normally also
carry out an occult test, which shows the presence of
worms in the heart. If the presence of worms is detected
through blood tests, radiographs (x-rays) can be used to
determine the severity of the heartworm disease.
If you suspect that your dog might show the symptoms
of heartworm disease, you should immediately contact
your veterinarian who will conduct the required tests
and provide advice on heartworm medicine.
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