Heartworms are dangerous to dogs and in some cases can be fatal. Your dog can get heartworms primarily through a mosquito bite. The mosquito bites an infected animal and draws up heartworm larvae with the blood. When the mosquito bites another animal (i.e. your dog) then that animal becomes infected. The larvae takes 10 to 14 days to become infecting. It takes six months for the worms to mature. From the very beginning these worms can do a lot of damage. Primarily if they can block blood flow to major organs like the heart and lungs. Treatment is aggressive and the sooner it can be started the better. For this reason, your dog should be tested annual for heartworms that way your vet can identify an infection early on. If your dog is negative then he should be on a prevention medication. Please consult with your certified vets Sugar Land TX for further details.
Helalth Care 