Can heartworms spread directly from my adopted dog to my other dog?

Heart worms can be detected through a blood test that can be done at a veterinarian’s office. Heart worms are transmitted by mosquitoes...a mosquito harboring a life stage of the heartworm will transmit it to a dog by biting it. It is not passed from dog to dog through casual contact. Heartworm disease is easily prevented, so if your veterinarian can test your dog and he is negative....there are a number of heartworm preventative products available through your veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes. So, your dog will not infect the cat. However, if your cat is indoor and outdoor, she is at risk of contracting heartworms if she is not currently taking prevention.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your potential new dog. The biggest issue with a heartworm positive dog is she will need strict rest throughout her treatment especially after she is given the medication to kill the adult worms. She should have x-rays of her chest as well as blood and urine testing prior to starting treatment to determine the extent of her disease. Because she will need to be kept quiet, it may make introductions with your current dog easier. She should be used to a crate coming the the shelter, so she will be able to kept separate. This will allow them both time to get used to each other. You can allow them to meet on neutral territory and keep them separate in the home until they are more comfortable with each other. Good luck!

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Midnight Yes, heartworm disease is serious. Dogs get heartworm from being bitten by an infected mosquito. The mosquito injects microfilaria (baby heartworm) in to the skin when they bite the dog. It can then take 6 months to travel from the skin to the pulmonary artery. If they get a lot of heartworm they back up in to the heart (Caval syndrome). That is very serious because the adult worms have to be extracted from the heart via the jugular vein. Your other dogs can not get it from Midnight, only from a mosquito. You should have all your dogs tested then started on heartworm prevention. The gold standard of treatment is injectable adulticide as 3 injections. One is given then the other 2 a month later 24 hours apart. During treatment and 2 months after the 3rd injection the dog has to be strictly cage rested. The major risk of treating and HAVING heart worm is sudden death from clots to the lungs. Talk to your Vet about treatment options. I wish you the best!

Yes, if you live in an area with mosquitos. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, not by dog to dog contact. The mosquito injects larva into the blood when they bite the dog and over six months they grow into adult heartworms that live in the heart and surrounding blood vessels. Infected dogs have many worms in their heart and they eventually die of heart failure if not treated. The treatment is expensive and can be hard on the dog. Heartworm prevention is given monthly for life and protects your dog from heartworms and intestinal parasites. There are many different safe products some that include flea prevention also. Please talk with your veterinarian about getting prevention for Sophie soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sophie.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your school project. I am an associate veterinarian in Colorado Springs, CO. I have been in practice for 12 years. I recently saw. a case of heartworm disease. The dog was a 5 year old spayed female mixed breed dog. She was rescued from a group in southern Colorado. Thankfully she was not symptomatic for the disease and responded well to treatment. Heartworm disease is transmitted to dogs by mosquito bites. I hope this information helps!

Heartworm medication should be given to a dog every month, but if a dog does have heartworm, it will take at least six months for a dog to test positive after being infected. I would have Holly checked for heartworm now so she can be put on a preventative if she is negative for it. I hope this helps!