Dog's good health is in owner's hands
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 1994.
Brought to you by
It is the pet owner's responsibility to understand the threat which infectious diseases present to a dog's health and to provide a health-care programme that will ensure a pet's long-term health and happiness, says Dr. Brian T. Donohue, one of the veterinarians assisting the C.I. Humane Society.
It is far less costly, to you and your pet, to prevent diseases rather than to treat them. Most common infectious diseases can be prevented by routine vaccination and periodic physical examinations.
The situation is similar to that which you face if you have children. You simply don't put them at risk, if you can avoid it.
One of the diseases that your dog can be protected against by treatment is canine heartworm disease, Dr. Donohue advises. Canine heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease of dogs.
Long white worms, technically known as Dirofilariaimmitis, are the cause. Adult worms, which reach a length of 6 to 14 inches, live in the right side of the heart and in the adjacent large blood vessels.
A large accumulation of adult worms impairs circulation of the blood, which can result in serious damage to a dog's heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.
The important thing for dog owners to remember is that a great deal of damage can occur before any outward signs of heartworm disease are noticed.
Although a dog can lead a nearly normal, healthy life with a few heartworms in its system, in advanced stages the disease may cause its victim to have difficult breathing, cough, tire easily, become listless, lose weight, or faint.
If not detected and controlled with proper treatment, the disease can lead to congestive heart failure and death.
Heartworm infection is spread by mosquitoes. When a mosquito "bites" an infected dog, it takes up blood which may contain microscopic immature forms of heartworms called microfilariae. They incubate in the mosquito for about two weeks, during which they become infective larvae.
Then, when the mosquito bites another dog, the infective larvae are passed into the second dog, infecting it.
The mosquito is the only agent of transmission for canine heartworms, and about 60 species are capable of carrying the disease. As expected, heartworm infection is more common in areas where mosquitos are numerous, and outdoor dogs constantly exposed to mosquitoes are the most frequent victims.
The only way to detect heartworm disease in its early stages is through a blood test of your dog by a veterinarian, using relatively simple diagnostic procedures. Most dogs can be successfully treated for heartworms if the disease is detected early.
But, most important, there is a method of preventing infection. It consists of giving small daily doses of a drug that keeps the infective larvae from developing into adult worms. It is simple to administer and the pet owner can handle the necessary medication by himself. The amount should be prescribed by a veterinarian, and given exactly as directed.
Only a healthy pet is a happy companion. To assure your pet's daily well-being requires regular care and close attention to its health. Preventive procedures are available and the responsible dog owner can keep his pet free from disease with the help of a veterinarian.
