As a pet parent don't beat yourself up if you didn't know about any of these heartworm symptoms from Petful before. It's an excellent start that you're learning about them now, so you know what symptoms to recognize. Keeping your pooch healthy and becoming aware of possible ailments is one of the first steps you can take.

Heartworms are silent killers that are often overlooked until it’s too late.

This preventable condition starts with a mosquito bite and ends with either a long, expensive treatment or death. Understanding the condition starts with knowing how it develops and affects your dog.

Heartworm Life Cycle in Dogs

A tiny little mosquito starts this long, painful process. The insect provides the transport for the parasite known as Dirofilaria immitis.

This means that symptoms may not appear until after 6 months since the original mosquito bite.

Warning Signs That Your Dog Has Heartworms

Symptoms may not appear until the worm reaches maturity (usually after around 6 months).

1. Coughing
A soft, dry cough can be one of the red flags of heartworms in dogs.
2. Inactivity or Lethargy
Your pet suddenly seems tired more often, doesn’t want to go outside or avoids all physical activity.
3. Weight Loss or Anorexia
Even minor physical activities such as eating can become difficult and exhausting chores for a dog with heartworms.
4. Rapid or Difficult Breathing
Along with coughing, breathing problems and abnormalities occur when the heartworms inhabit the lungs and surrounding veins.
5. Bulging Chest
The ribs may seem to protrude and the chest has a bulging appearance as a result of adult heartworm infection.
6. Collapse
Collapse is usually accompanied by shock and red blood cell destruction. Death can follow within days.

There are other tools used by vets to detect heartworms more accurately.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Heartworm in Dogs

Blood tests to detect the various stages of heartworm infection can include viewing a blood sample under a microscope and checking for antigens of adult heartworms (a protein the heartworms produce and also the most commonly used test, according to VCA Animal Hospitals).

Treatment begins by eliminating the adult roundworms and takes about one month to complete. The dead adult worms are then absorbed by the body.

This condition is preventable. If your pet is not taking any type of heartworm preventive, please talk with your veterinarian about getting started.

In addition to the symptoms above, additional symptoms mentioned by Petful include secondary pneumonia, seizures, blindness, and even lameness. These shocking results of heartworm are why it is SO important to be watchful of the beginning signs, so your dog gets treated immediately. Don't forget to ask your vet about effective treatment for heartworm so you can prevent this scary disease in the first place.