We don't call dogs "man's best friend" for nothing. By spending time with us, walking with us, playing with us and loving us, dogs directly contribute to a better quality of life for human beings. Isn't it only fair that we return the love and affection? It is the primary responsibility of the dog owner to make sure that their canine friend is as well taken care of, healthy and happy as they can be and ensuring that their pets are disease and heartworm free is one of the most wonderful ways of doing so.

Heartworm is a disease commonly found in dogs and some cats. It is a parasitic worm that can cause severe damage to a dog's body and they get the worms through contact with mosquitoes. While dogs are the main hosts for this parasite, it has been known for cats to have heartworm and even some humans, but on a very rare instances. They are actual worm parasites that live in the dog's heart, arteries and lungs and they have a life span of six to seven months - plenty of time to do lots of damage.

Again, heartworm is spread through contact with mosquitoes so it is outdoor dogs that are the most afflicted by heartworm diseases. Infected mosquitoes bite the dog, but in the process they plant heartworm larvae into the dog's coat. From there, the larvae moves into the dog's skin and changes form into the worm-like parasite that they appear to be and they can get rather large; some heartworms have been found to be a foot long! They multiply and produce more heartworms that live in a dog's blood vessels and they can be there for years, causing severe problems with blood circulation and the lungs.

The problem with heartworm is that it can get pretty bad before it ever shows its ugly head to a human owner. This means that your dog could be afflicted with heartworm and you would never notice it, perhaps until it is nearly too late for them. Depending on the health of your dog, the number of heartworms, where they have infected and how long they have been there, a dog can be fatally ill with heartworm disease if they are not checked and treated correctly. Signs of heartworm disease in dogs include severe weight loss, loss of appetite or energy, heavy or short breathing, coughing, fainting and nervousness. Heart failure is also a indication of heartworm, although it is one of the advanced ones that might lead to death from these nasty parasites.

Your vet should have heartworm preventative drugs for your pet and they can test your dog and find out whether or not he is infected with the parasites. Most heartworm tests are included in a normal vet visit as it is. If your pet sees a vet on a consistent basis, request for heartworm drugs and your dog should be fine. If they are infected, there are methods of treatment as well and many of them do work, but preventing heartworms in dogs is always much easier than treating them.