22/08/2026
๐พ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐โผ๏ธ๐ชฑ๐ถ๐ซ
This is our first encountered Canine Heartworm (CHW) positive case here at the clinic, involving a Belgian Malinois who presented with vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, and shallow breathing.๐ฅน
๐ฉบ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฆ๐?
๐ถ๐ซ๐ชฑCanine heartworm disease is a potentially life-threatening parasitic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis.
It is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. ๐ฆ
Once an infected mosquito bites a dog, the parasite develops inside the host over several months. Adult heartworms eventually live primarily in the pulmonary arteries and, in advanced cases, the right side of the heart, where they can interfere with normal blood circulation and cause significant cardiopulmonary damage.
The disease can range from mild and apparently asymptomatic to severe and potentially fatal.
โ ๏ธ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฆ๐:
โข Persistent cough
โข Exercise intolerance
โข Difficulty or shallow breathing
โข Weakness and lethargy
โข Weight loss or decreased appetite
โข Enlarged abdomen due to fluid accumulation
โข Collapse in severe cases
What makes heartworm disease particularly concerning is that some dogs may have very few clinical signs during the early stages, even while the infection is progressing.
๐ฌ ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ง:
Heartworm infection was detected through diagnostic testing, and 3 live microfilariae were also observed on a direct blood smear, supporting an active infection.
โค๏ธโ๐ฉน This case is a reminder that prevention is far safer and easier than treating established heartworm disease.
Regular heartworm prevention, appropriate screening, and routine veterinary check-ups are essentialโespecially for dogs living in areas where mosquitoes are common. ๐ฆ๐พ
For our patients, early detection can make a significant difference. โค๏ธ
๐ซถ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ฆ. ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฆ๐. ๐ซ๐ถ
