Why is my dog scooting their butt on the carpet?

Why is my dog scooting their butt on the carpet?

It could be an anal sac disorder.

Dogs have anal sacs on either side of the anus that fill with fluid produced by the anal glands. This fluid is a scent marker that’s useful for communicating with other dogs, such as to delineate territory.

Anal sac disorders involve impaction of anal sac fluid, inflammation of the sac(s), and abscess of the sac(s), which can lead to a dog having a ruptured anal gland. Impaction is the most common disorder of the anal glands. Small breed dogs like Toy Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas are more predisposed than other breeds.

Symptoms and Types

• Dog is scooting

• Straining to defecate

• Itching/Scratching

• Tail chasing

• Discharge from the anal glands

• Licking and biting around the anus
  

Causes

• Conformation (body shape)

• Allergies

• Chronically soft feces

• Recent bout of diarrhea

• Constipation

• Excessive glandular secretions

• Poor anal muscle tone

• Anal gland tumor

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will conduct a complete physical exam on your dog, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition.

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health, the onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have led to this condition. Your veterinarian may order a fecal test, blood count and chemical profile, and a urinalysis to rule out other causes of disease.

The anal sacs are considered enlarged if they are easily palpable during the physical exam. The normal clear or pale yellow-brown secretion will have turned to a thick, pasty brown fluid if the anal glands have been impacted. Abscessed anal sacs will have a red-brown exudate, and show signs of swelling and redness. The anal sacs may also be clearly ruptured.

Your veterinarian will try to gently empty your dog’s anal sacs. Based on the consistency and color of the material, and the difficultly involved in expressing it, your veterinarian will choose a treatment.

Treatment

If the anal sacs were full, but the material was normal and easily cleaned, your veterinarian may discuss a diet change or supplements. Some anal gland issues are responsive to added fiber or different types of dog food. If there is evidence of infection, your veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic.

Abscessed anal sacs will be opened to the exterior near the anus in order to allow drainage. The anal sacs will then be cleaned and flushed, and prescription antibiotics will be infused into them.

If your dog is suffering from chronic anal sac infection, the anal sacs may need to be surgically removed. However, if your dog is suffering from severe fistulation (abnormal openings in the anal sacs), it may benefit from oral cyclosporine therapy.

During treatment, your veterinarian may recommend a diet or supplements to loosen the consistency of the feces. This may make it less irritating to defecate so that your dog does not develop constipation.

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Senior Dementia in Dogs: Symptoms & Treatment

Senior dementia is a common problem seen in older dogs just like it is in older humans. Similar to Alzheimer's in people, dementia in dogs often results in altered behaviors and memory loss. These changes may affect the quality of life of both the dogs as well as the dog owners but by better understanding what is really occurring, owners may be able to lessen the negative effects of this issue.

What Is Senior Dementia in Dogs?

Senior dementia is formally known as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) but is often also referred to as doggy dementia or doggy Alzheimer's. Dementia isn't a disease but rather a collection of symptoms that result in major changes in mood, behavior, and memory. It usually negatively affects the everyday life of a senior dog and is commonly seen to varying degrees as dogs age. The Behavior Clinic at the University of California states that 28% of dogs aged 11 to 12 years display signs of dementia and that likelihood increases to 68% of dogs when they reach ages 15 or 16.

Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD, director of Veterinary Medicine Behavioral Services at Washington State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital categorizes CCD into four main types:

• Involutive depression: This form is similar to chronic depression in people and results in anxiety.

• Dysthymia: This form results in confusion, disorientation, and sometimes a loss of conscious awareness of the body.

• Hyper-aggressiveness: This form involves the serotonin, or "happy hormone," levels in the brain and usually results in an aggressive dog.

• Confusional syndrome: This form is similar to Alzheimer's in people where a major decline in cognitive function occurs.

Signs

The signs of senior dementia in dogs revolve around the brain changes that occur as a dog ages. These changes may be gradual and worsen as the dog continues to age or they may seem more drastic in nature. Some symptoms also easily go unnoticed until the dog owner is affected by them.

Signs of Senior Dementia in Dogs

• Soiling in the house

• Getting lost in the house/disorientation

• Barking without reason

• Going to the wrong side of the door

• Lack of interaction with people or other pets

• Decrease or lack of appetite

• Lower threshold for aggressive behavior

• Anxiety

• Irregular sleeping patterns

• Staring at the walls

• Pacing/repetitive behaviors

One of the biggest concerns that dog owners who have dogs with dementia note is the loss of house training. As some dogs develop senior dementia they get confused and may start urinating or defecating in the house. This causes frustration for the owner who may in return get upset with their pet. This affects the human-animal bond and ultimately the quality of life of both the pet and the owner.

Other signs of confusion due to senior dementia include disorientation in the home, staring at walls, and going to the hinged side of a door when the dog has known for years which side of the door opens to go through it. Senior dementia can cause a dog who has known its home environment for years to suddenly get lost in rooms or corners of its house.

Vocalizations, including barking, whining, and crying for no apparent reason, are also often seen in dogs with senior dementia. This may be an indication of stress, fear, or anxiety due to the confusion.

Aggressive behaviors may be more common in dogs with dementia due to their lowered threshold of tolerance and patience. Normally patient and willing dogs may suddenly exhibit signs of aggression such as growling and even biting at people and other pets.

Irregular sleeping patterns, repetitive behaviors such as licking and pacing, a decrease in appetite, and even not wanting to interact with other pets or their owners can be additional signs of senior dementia in dogs. These, along with other behaviors, can all put a strain on the relationships owners have with their dogs.

The most common signs of CCD can be remembered with the commonly used acronym DISHA: disorientation, interaction changes, sleep changes, house soiling, and activity level changes.

Causes

The symptoms are a result of changes or damage in the brain but different symptoms and types of dementia may arise from different brain issues. No one entirely understands the complete causes of dementia. However, there are some things that are known due to the similarities between humans and dogs with dementia. Certain proteins that accumulate in the brain around neurons and the breakdown of neurons are two things that disrupt the normal transmission of information in the brain and therefore contribute to senior dementia in dogs.

Getting a Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will rule out other medical issues with your dog before diagnosing CCD. The Quality of Life Scale (or HHHHHMM Scale) is often used to aid owners in determining whether or not their dog has changed as it ages. This scale goes through the signs of dementia and includes a review of the dog's behaviors. Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility and More good days than bad are assessed in the HHHHHMM scale. This scale also helps an owner decide whether or not a pet's quality of life is still good as dementia progresses and may also help an owner decide when euthanasia should be considered.

Treatment and Prevention

There is, unfortunately, no way to reverse the signs of dementia in dogs but there are some nutritional aids that can be administered to help potentially delay brain changes as a dog ages. Antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT's) are the main dietary components that are often discussed for brain health. Some experts recommend supplementing dogs before they begin to show signs of senior dementia but there is no specific treatment or preventative regimen. If you are concerned with CCD developing in your senior dog, talk with your veterinarian about possible preventative measures.

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When is a Dog Considered Senior?

Pets age much faster than we do. The life span of a dog depends on its size or breed. In general, the larger the breed or size of the dog, the shorter the life span. For example, in a study of lifespans, only 13% of giant breed dogs lived to be over 10 years old. Conversely, 38% of small breed dogs live to be over 10 years of age.

Dogs are considered senior in the last 25% of their lives. Below is a list of the most common breeds with their life expectancies and age at which they are considered “senior”.

When your dog is senior, make sure they have a senior check-up with your veterinarian.

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Affenpinscher	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Afghan Hound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Airdale Terrier	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Akita	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Alaskan Malamute	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
American Eskimo	13 years	9.5 – 10 years
American Foxhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
American Staffordshire Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
American Water Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Anatolian Sheepdog	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Australian Cattle Dog	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Australian Shepherd	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Australian Terrier	15 years	11 years
Basenji	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Basset Hound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Beagle	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Bearded Collie	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Beauceron	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Bedlington Terrier	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Belgian Malinois	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Belgian Sheepdog	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Belgian Tervuren	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Bernese Mountain Dog	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Bichon Frise	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Black and Tan Coonhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Black Russian Terrier	10 – 11 years	7.5 – 8 years
Bloodhound	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Border collie	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Border Terrier	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Borzoi	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Boston Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Bouvier Des Flandres	8 – 10 years	6.5 – 7.5 years
Boxer	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Briard	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Brittany	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Brussels Griffon	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Bull Dog	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Bull Terrier	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Bullmastiff	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Cairn Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Canaan Dog	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Cardigan Welsh Corgi	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	12 years	9 years
Chesapeake Bay Retriever	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Chihuahua	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Chinese Crested	12 – 16 years	9 – 12 years
Chinese Shar Pei	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Chow Chow	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Clumber Spaniel	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Cocker Spaniel-American	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Cocker Spaniel-English	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Collie	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Curly Coated Retriever	8 – 12 years	6 – 9 years

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Dachshund	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Dalmatian	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Dandie Dinmont Terrier	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Doberman Pinscher	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
English Foxhound	10 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
English Setter	10 – 14 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
English Springer Spaniel	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
English Toy Spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Field Spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Finnish Spitz	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Flat Coated Retriever	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Fox Terrier – Smooth	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Fox Terrier – Wirehair	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
French Bulldog	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
German Pinscher	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
German Shepherd Dog	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
German Shorthaired Pointer	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
German Wirehaired Pointer	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Giant Schnauzer	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Glen Imaal Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Golden Retriever	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Gordon Setter	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Great Dane	9 – 10 years	6.5 – 7.5 years
Great Pyrenees	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Great Swiss Mountain Dog	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Greyhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Harrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Havanese	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Ibizan Hound	12 years	9 years
Irish Setter	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Irish Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Irish Water spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Irish Wolfhound	6 – 8 years	4.5 – 6 years
Italian Greyhound	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Japanese Chin	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Keeshond	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Kerry Blue Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Komondor	12 years	9 – 11 years
Kuvasz	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Labrador Retriever	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Lakeland Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Lhasa Apso	15 years	11 years
Lowchen	10 – 15 years	7.5 – 11 years
Maltese	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Manchester Terrier – Standard & Toy	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Mastiff	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Miniature Bull Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Miniature Pinscher	15 years	11 years
Miniature Schnauzer	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Mix Breed – 1-15 pounds	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Mix Breed – 16-40 pounds	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Mix Breed – 41-75 pounds	8 – 13 years	6 – 9 years
Mix Breed – 75 pounds	7 – 11 years	5 – 8 years

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Neopolitan Mastiff	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Newfoundland	7 – 10 years	5 – 7.5 years
Norfolk Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Norwegian Elkhound	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Norwich Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Old English Sheepdog	10 – 12 years	4.5 – 9 years
Otter Hound	12 years	9 years
Papillon	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Parson Russell Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Pekingese	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Pembroke welsh Corgi	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen	10 – 14 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
Pharaoh Hound	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Plott Hound	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Pointer	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Polish Lowland Sheepdog	13 – 14 years	9 -10.5 years
Pomeranian	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Poodle Miniature	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Poodle Standard	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Poodle Toy	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Portuguese Water Dog	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Pug	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Puli	12 – 16 years	9 – 12years
Redbone Coonhound	11 – 12 years	8 – 9 years
Rhodesian Ridgeback	8 – 12 years	6 – 9 years
Rottweiler	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Saint Bernard	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Saluki	13 – 16 years	9 – 12 years
Samoyed	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Schipperke	15 years	11 years
Scottish Deerhound	11 – 12 years	8 – 9 years
Scottish Terrier	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Sealyham Terrier	14 years	10.5 years
Shetland Sheepdog	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Shiba Inu	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Shih Tzu	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Siberian husky	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Silky Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Skye Terrier	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Soft – Coated Wheaten Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
cSpinone Italiano	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Standard Schnauzer	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Sussex Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Tibetan Mastiff	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Tibetan Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Tibetan Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Toy Fox Terrier	15 years	11 years
Vizsla	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Weimaraner	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Welsh Springer Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Welsh Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
West Highland white Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Whippet	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Yorkshire Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years

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Can Dogs Get Sunburn? Know The Risks of Sun on Your Dog’s Skin and Nose

Humans often take precautions to protect themselves from the sun, but should we be doing the same for our dogs?

Can dogs get sunburned?

The answer is yes. Just like people, dogs are just as prone to sunburn and to other complications and diseases associated with sun exposure. Taking certain safety measures can lower your dog’s risk of developing serious sun-related medical issues. This includes choosing a sunscreen that’s formulated for your pet.

Sun Risks

Sunburn isn’t just painful for dogs; it can lead to more serious problems like certain types of skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanomas, and hemangiomas. Sunburn also exacerbates certain conditions, such as autoimmune disorders and dermatitis, and can cause discomfort at surgery sites. Luckily, a little careful planning can prevent your dog from catching too many ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Predisposed Dogs

Some dogs are more at risk for sunburn than others. Hairless dog breeds, such as the Xoloitzcuintli, Chinese Crested, and American Hairless Terrier, need sun protection when they are outside for long periods of time. Dogs with white or thin coats and dogs with light-pigmented noses and eyelids are also more at risk for sunburn (such as Collies, Australian Sheepdogs, Dalmatians, Bulldogs, Whippets, and any dog with light or white pigment on their ears or near their nose). Even some dogs with thick coats of hair may experience hair loss from seasonal shedding or a health condition that may cause their coats to become very thin and may then be at greater risk for sunburn.

Does your dog just love to lie out on your patio and feel the sun’s warmth? Did you know: Dogs that lie outside on concrete or on light surfaces, especially those that lie on their backs, can suffer sunburn.

Sunscreen for Dogs

Sunscreen protects dogs from sunburn, but using the wrong type of sunscreen can also cause problems. It’s highly important that you only use formulas that are specifically intended for pets. They should not contain zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), as these ingredients are toxic to dogs if ingested, and dogs will often lick their skin and accidentally ingest the sunscreen. The symptoms of zinc oxide poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a yellowing of the eyes, mouth and throat irritation, and potentially life-threatening anemia. Should your dog exhibit any of these symptoms, consult your veterinarian. It’s also a good idea to look for a waterproof harness or covering, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.

How to Apply Sunscreen to Dogs

So how do you get your dog-safe sunscreen on your wiggly pup? Carefully. First, test a small amount on one spot to be sure it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. Next, be sure to put it on the spots most exposed to sunshine, such as the bridge of the nose, ear tips, skin around their lips, groin, and inner thighs – and anywhere else where pigmentation is light. When applying it to you dog’s head, be sure not to get any in their eyes. And once you apply the sunscreen, watch that your dog doesn’t lick it off for about 10 or 15 minutes – until it’s been absorbed.

You should apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before your dog goes out. And while they are out in the sun, reapply the sunscreen every four-to-six hours or after your dog goes swimming.

Sunscreen Alternatives

Rather than lathering sunscreen over your dog’s entire body, consider investing in protective clothing. Several companies make sun shirts or suits for dogs that cover large areas of their bodies, saving you the worry that your pup will lick any sunscreen off. Protective clothing will often have UPF protection of 40 and also protect against mosquitoes and other insect pests.

Hats and even goggles are also available to protect your pup when they are out in the sun. Alternatively, try to keep your dog out of direct sun during the hottest parts of the day, and provide plenty of shade while you are enjoying outdoor activities like swimming. All dogs, especially puppies and older dogs, are at risk of heat stroke, so it is very important to make sure they have access to lots of fresh drinking water at all times. Remember, you can always ask your veterinarian for advice on how best to protect your dog from harmful UV exposure. Finally, consider keeping your dogs in shade with free access to water. It sounds simple, but it usually works!

Treating Sunburn in Dogs

Any time sunburn is visible as reddened, warm, or flaking skin, you should move your dog inside or at least into the shade as quickly as possible. Cool compresses and ointments may soothe the skin to help relieve the initial symptoms. Aloe may help a minor burn. However, if the burn is severe, you should call your veterinarian because treatment with a cortisone product may be needed to prevent inflammation. There may also be a secondary infection requiring antibiotics. If these complications do occur, the dog will need to be well protected from the sun in the future to prevent permanent damage.

Although sunscreen is important, it can’t be counted on to be 100 percent effective. The best way to protect your dog from the sun is to keep them indoors or in the shade, except for quick elimination periods, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Heartworm in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Heartworm is a potentially lethal parasite that is transmitted only by mosquitos, which pick up larval heartworms, called microfilaria, circulating in the bloodstream of infected animals.

Dogs and other canids, such as foxes, wolves, and coyotes, are considered the primary heartworm hosts, but these parasites can also affect other mammals, including your cats and ferrets.

There are treatments available for dogs, but prevention is the wisest approach to dealing with heartworms.

What is Heartworm Disease?

The heartworm in dogs that’s prevalent in the U.S. goes by the scientific name Dirofilaria immitis or D. immitis. It does not spread from dog to dog, but requires an intermediary—the mosquito—to infect new hosts.

The worms enter their host through a mosquito bite when it is taking a blood meal. Residue on the mosquito’s mouthpiece carries immature worms called microfilaria (which are only about 1/100th of an inch long) from an infected animal to an uninfected one. The immature worms travel through the bloodstream and, after about two months, settle in the right side of the heart and begin to grow.

They mature after six months and can live in the dog’s body for seven years, each reaching up to one foot in length, and constantly producing offspring. After about a year, a dog may harbor hundreds of these worms, although 15 is the average burden. The worms cause inflammation and damage the heart, arteries, and lungs.

How widespread are heartworms?

The first canine heartworms in the U.S. were discovered in the southeast in 1856. While it was once more common in the Atlantic and Gulf coast states, the American Heartworm Society, in its first update since 2014, reports that heartworm is increasing throughout the country and worldwide. In the report, Cassan Pulaski, DVM, MPH states that, “…While southern regions of the country have historically been associated with heartworm, we now know pets all over the country are potentially at risk for heartworm disease throughout the year.” According to U.S. Food & Drug Administration, incidents of the disease have been reported in all fifty states. This is especially important to keep in mind if your dog travels.

Areas with large populations of wild or stray animals also pose an enhanced risk, but even dogs that stay inside most of the time are not totally safe from a mosquito’s bite. Also, pets being shipped from state to state may introduce heartworm into regions where it was historically not a problem. This is especially notable due to the bringing in of shelter dogs from heartworm endemic states and from disaster relief efforts. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, for example, about a quarter of a million pets traveled from the New Orleans area to new homes around the country. Some brought heartworm with them. AHS estimates that more than a million pets in the U.S. are infected. The AHS notes that climate and environmental change also contribute to the spread of the disease.

Should your dog be tested for heartworm?

• All dogs should be tested annually, even those on heartworm prevention medication year round.

• Puppies under seven months old may be started on heartworm prevention even though it can take six months or more for blood work to test positive. After that, they should be tested in six months and again, six months later.

• Adult dogs over seven years old that have not previously been on a heartworm prevention regimen should be tested.

• Dogs that have missed a treatment, or for whom treatment has lapsed, need to be tested. If you’ve missed even one dose, or been late to administer, your dog should be tested.

What are the symptoms of heartworms?

In the early stages, there may be no signs of disease. As the worms grow and multiply, symptoms will become evident, increasing in severity as the disease progresses. There are four classes of infection:

• Class one has no symptoms or just a mild cough.

• Class two is marked by mild exercise intolerance and persistent cough.

• Class three will result in greater exercise intolerance, abnormal lung sounds, weak pulse, syncope (fainting caused by impaired blood flow to the brain), decreased appetite, weight loss, and ascites (swollen belly due to heart failure).

• Class four is known as caval syndrome, a life-threatening cardiovascular collapse, which is marked by labored breathing, pale gums, and dark coffee-colored urine, leading to complete organ failure and death.

How is heartworm diagnosed?

Early diagnosis important; the earlier heartworm is detected, the better the chances for recovery. In many cases, a blood test can determine the presence of the parasite. The blood is tested for the presence of antigens (proteins) even if there is no evidence of microfilariae. If your dog is diagnosed with heartworm through a blood test, your veterinarian will use additional tests for confirmation and make sure your dog can safely undergo treatment. These include:

• Radiographs to pinpoint abnormalities in the right side of the heart and pulmonary arteries.

• Ultrasounds to show abnormal organ shape as well as wriggling worms.

• Echocardiography to see inside heart chambers and visualize worms.
  

How to treat heartworms in dogs

Confirm diagnosis

Treatment is expensive and complex, so your vet may want to perform additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Restrict activity

Although it may be difficult to restrict normal activity, especially in active dogs, this is crucial. Exertion will increase the rate of damage to the heart and lungs. Crate confinement may be necessary.

Stabilize the disease

If your dog has advanced symptoms or other medical conditions, preliminary therapies may be required.

Kill worms

The drug that is FDA-approved for treatment in the U.S., is melarsomine dihydrochloride, which is sold under the brand names Immiticide and Diroban.

It is administered by deep intramuscular injection into the dog’s lumbar region of the lower back and is recommended for disease that has not progressed past class three. Another FDA-approved drug, Advantage Multi for Dogs (imidacloprid and moxidectin), rids the bloodstream of microfilariae. In addition, other drugs such as heartworm preventives, antibiotics, and steroids may be part of your veterinarian’s protocol.

Surgery

In extreme cases, veterinarians will resort to surgery, physically pulling the worms out.

Follow-up testing

The first test should take place six months after successful treatment.

Preventing heartworm

Treatment for heartworm is hard and sometimes dangerous for the dog and very expensive, which is why veterinarians are so adamant about yearly testing and administration of preventative compounds — what scientists call chemoprophylaxis. The current AHS guidelines include the following:

• Year-round administration of a heartworm prevention medication.

• Strict compliance to the schedule of dosing recommended by your vet.

• Application of FDA-approved mosquito repellants.

• Environmental control to reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, such as pools of standing water; the use of mosquito traps; and avoiding your dog’s exposure by limiting outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, mosquitos’ prime feeding time.

• These medications, used for prevention, are also effective against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, fleas, and tapeworms. Make sure to use a formulation specifically intended for dogs.

For more information on heartworm prevention relevant to your doggo, speak directly with your veterinarian.

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