Dog Heart Worm -- A Serious Threat to Your Golden's Health

Dog heart worm is one of the most serious internal parasite that your Golden Retriever can get. This is a disease spread by mosquitoes infected with the heartworm microfilaria or larvae. When these infected mosquitoes bite a dog, the dog develops worms (usually 6-12 inches long). As these worms mature, they spread to the dog's heart and physically clog the heart.

• coughing
• fatigue with minimal exertion
• shortness of breath
• unintentional weight loss

It is relatively easy to diagnose this disease. Your vet can do this by a blood test that looks for the microfilaria. The treatment of this illness is very expensive and dangerous, so prevention is of utmost importance. Prevention is typically in the form of a monthly medicine in the form of a pill.

This pill will not cure an existing infection and is only meant to prevent this illness from happening in the first place. Of note, the preventative medicine also kills many other parasites.

Make sure to discuss heart worm with your vet at your first visit so your Golden Retriever can start the preventative measures right away.