Category: Heart Worms
Immiticide Heartworm Medicine Shortage: 2012 Update
Those who own or have treated dogs infected with heartworm have been waiting for an update on the 2011/2012 Immiticide shortage. The veterinary profession went into a near panic when drug giant Merial, makers of the only canine heartworm treatment on the market, Immiticide, announced in August of 2011 that they had to temporarily halt distribution of the drug for several weeks to several months. Citing a “technical issue in the plant,” the company went on to say that their inventory of Immiticide was depleted and that veterinarians should work on alternative protocols for treating and managing heartworm disease, such as a combination of steroids, antihistamines and preventative heartworm medication.
Feline Worm Identification
Ringworm lives in dead skin, while hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and whipworms, live in the cat’s intestines. Also known as dermatophytosis, ringworm is an infection in the dead layer of the skin, hair, and nails. The fungus uses dead tissue, called keratin, in the skin as a source of nutrition.
How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Worms?
If you don’t have your pet screened often, you will have to become familiar with the symptoms of worms. One of the most obvious ways to determine if your dog has worms is to take a quick look at your pets feces. Worms can be seen protruding from your dog’s waste without examining closely.
Dogs with Worms
Dogs with worms will show a number of symptoms that will tell you that he has an infection. With the exception of heartworm, most dog worms will cause similar symptoms.
Signs of Cat Worms
Even a small number of heartworms can be serious. Signs of heartworm include respiratory stress (difficulty breathing or rapid shallow breathing), gagging or vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
Worm Detection
If the infection is allowed to progress, worms can lead to weight loss, anemia, vomiting, and in some cases, even death. Fortunately early worm detection can be as easy as a quick trip to the vet or a two-minute exam that you can perform on your own at home.
How to Identify Parasite Worms
You can identify them by becoming familiar with the way common parasite worms look or you may browse through images online.
Coughing Up Worms
In the earliest stages of heartworm, there are no abnormal signs of infection. Even in mild cases, however, coughing is present. In the moderate stage, you may notice more intense coughing, exercise intolerance, and abnormal lung sounds.
Organic Dog Worm Cures
Garlic, wheat bran and pumpkin seeds are considered common organic dog worm cures by some, unfortunately, most organic “cures” do not work.
Natural Cat Worm Cures?
Cat worms cannot be completely eliminated with home remedies or 100 percent natural products such as herbs, garlic, and pumpkin, although these natural products can help. In many cases, however, these products just are not powerful enough to kill resistant worm infections such as heartworm, hookworm, and tapeworm. If your cat is experiencing any of the symptoms below, he might have a worm infection. He should be taken to the vet immediately for testing.
Heartworm Pills by PetMeds Pet Medication
Iverhart Max is another heartworm pill available for dogs only. Available through PetMeds, the chewable pill has a pork liver cereal flavor with a bit of artificial beef helps when it comes time to get a dog to actually take their medicine. Iverhart Max treats heartworm disease, roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms.
Dog With Damaged Heart Valve From Heart Worms
To help ease the symptoms associated with a damaged heart valve or heart disorders, your vet may prescribe a diuretic to reduce fluid retention. Surgery is possible, but the availability of it is very limited.
Heartworm Medicine
If heartworm adulticide treatment is effective, some degree of pulmonary thromboembolism will occur.
Pet Meds Heart Worm Pills
In addition to sponsoring PetHealth101, PetMeds offers consumers access to specially-trained veterinary pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and customer care specialists that will work together to meet the needs of its consumers.
Cat Signs of Worms
Some of the most common types of worms cause symptoms that could potentially be fatal. The most common types of cat worms include ringworm, which live in dead skin, hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and whipworms. These types of worms live in the cat’s intestines.
Types of Parasitic Worms in Dogs
Hookworms, tapeworms, roundworm, whipworm, and heartworm are the most common types of parasitic worms in dogs. Hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and whipworms live in the dog’s intestines and heartworm lives in the dog’s heart and in the blood vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs.
Treating Worms in Dogs
Fleas are a major source of certain types of worms, such as tapeworms. When a dog accidentally swallows an infected flea, worms can hatch in the dog’s intestines.
Signs of Worms in Dogs
In addition to recognizing signs of worms in dogs, it is important to recognize what the different types dog worms look like. Round worms look like spaghetti and tapeworm segments look like grains of rice.
Dog Heart Worm Symptoms
In the earliest stages or heart worm, there are no abnormal signs of infection. In mild cases, coughing is present. In the moderate stage, you may notice coughing, exercise intolerance, and abnormal lung sounds.
Worms in Dog Stool
In addition to your dog’s food, dog worms can be found in on or buried in your dog’s fur, around his anus, around his paws (from scratching) and it is not uncommon to find them in your dog’s ears.