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Heartworm, or roundworm, is very serious can affect all types of gun dogs. With gun dogs, working dogs, and other outdoor dogs, you must be especially concerned because they are more susceptible to heartworm. The worse case scenario is that an affected dog can pass it on to humans, as well as other dogs. In turn, you can also pass on heartworm to your own dog.

Known as a parasitic disease, roundworm can be transmitted from mosquito bites or other animals. It doesn’t affect dogs exclusively; other animals like foxes and coyotes can all contractg roundworm, meaning that should an affected animal come in contact with your dog, he will likely get heartworm. Because treatment is very difficult, heartworm prevention is the safest “treatment”. Heartworm can even kill your dog.

Preventing Roundworm/Heartworm

Prevention can come in the form of tablet or food additive when given to your dog as a preventative measure. A tablet can be ingested orally and mahy come in the form of a dog treat, and food additives can be added or mixed with food. Most of these treatments are monthly applications. Remember to give it to your dog each month. Use a calendar if it helps you remember.

If you live in an area where you have all four seasons, you should know that the number one carrier of heartworm are mosquitoes by means of passing on infected blood to another area when they sting their target. Where there are more moderate climactic change, roundworm is usually spread from one animal to another. No matter which scenario suits you, preventative measures should be taken each and every month, regardless of weather.

Symptoms of Roundworm

It’s difficult to notice roundworm infection early on as it generally has little or no outward affect on your dog. Only through blood tests or a very skilled veterinarian’s eye will it be seen. Usually, the roundworms will “gestate” or merely propagate themselves for the first few months before finally beginning to seriously affect your dog’s health. It is at this stage that they are easiest to treat, but when they are least often noticed.

Typically a dog infected with the round worm becomes lethargic and not necessarily interested in is normal daily activities. You may notice a cough or weight loss in addition to these other symptoms. Contact your veterinarian immediately because in addition to roundworm there may be other infections that may be causing the symptoms.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Roundworm

Blood tests are needed to confirm a roundworm diagnosis. It is an easy test and most vets are able to administer a blood test right in the office. Once confirmed, the vet will have to find out what stage of the illness your dog is affected with, determine whether or not the infestation is male or female, and make a final decision on the best course of treatment.

Once diagnosis has been made, treatment can begin. If the infestation has gone on for a while, it can become costly and extensive to treat. The roundworm must be destroyed completely and this is usually done through drug treatments and sometimes dialysis. It’s very taxing on your dog’s system and will result in weight loss and listlessness, especially when the worms begin to be discharged through your dog’s stool. Follow up treatments can last for months to ensure that all the worms were eliminated.

If left untreated, roundworm infection can lead to organ damage and treatment for a lifetime. Detecting symptoms as soon as possible is very important and treatment must start right away.

When you have any sort of hunting dog, you should always keep in mind that you should always keep your dog’s health as top priority. There are also lots of different hunting dog supplies that you should have on hand for your dog such as dog training collars or dog collars.

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