Heartworm Treatment Long Term Side Effects

Although heartworm is treatable, dogs react terribly to medicines and pills to cure this disease. Read more about heartworm treatment long term side effects on this article.

Heartworm Medication Side Effects Revealed

Heartworm is a condition that affects dogs bitten by the carrier mosquito. Medication can help prevent larvae of the carrier mosquito from growing and reproducing within your dog’s heart, leading to unbearable symptoms before a premature death. However heartworm medication can create serious side effects that you as a pet owner should be aware of.

But first, one must understand what a formidable enemy heartworm can be. Some mosquitoes carry their larvae and transfer it to your dog’s bloodstream. It then develops into an adult and resides in the heart, lungs, or surrounding blood vessels of the dog resulting to serious health problems. The purpose of heartworm medication is to provide protection to the dog against infection.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified three kinds of Heartworm Medication for dogs, which are only accessible through prescription. The oral type is available in pill or tablet form, the injectable form, and the topical type which is placed on the back of the dog.

Before administering heartworm medication, you first need to have your pet tested by a veterinarian to be sure that there is really an infection. If an infected dog is treated with a preventative, it can bring about serious health problems. Likewise, if the dog is negative from heartworm infection, the vet will prescribe one of the accessible treatments. At the very least, treatment will be done during the mosquito season. But most veterinarians recommend year-long treatment.

The most common Heartworm Medication side effects associated with the oral form includes diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and lethargy. The effects are commonly mild and may disappear after a certain period of time.

In the case of topical medications, the usual complications include irritation of the skin or dermatitis. The problem no longer persists as soon as you stop the application of the liquid. On the other hand, injectables like moxidectin were temporarily pulled out of the market as it resulted to the death of some dogs.

The FDA, however, recalled the products with several restrictions. First, the injecting veterinarian should have special training and they should explain the risks involved in the medication and have their client fill up an informed content form.

Other side effects associated with heartworm preventive drugs include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, convulsions, and even seizures. The long term complications may range from arthritis, liver and kidney diseases, skin allergies, as well as various types of degenerative problems. It is worth noting that the use of preventative drugs for heartworm does not stop the infestation but simply kill the larvae circulating in the body of your pet during its early stages.

The chemicals used in these medications are pesticides and while used in minimal amounts, they are administered regularly every month. Thus, you need help from your veterinarian in understanding heartworm medication side effects.

Author: Isabella Gibby

Learn more about Heartworm Medication at heartworm medication for dogs.com. Isabella Gibby is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about a variety of subjects, including several related to dogs. She has two teacup yorkies and writes for several yorkie dog websites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Isabella_Gibby

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