How is Heartworm Disease Transmitted in Beagles?

Heartworm disease can be potentially fatal if your dog is not tested and treated for it as soon as possible. Nearly all dogs (including the Beagle) are susceptible to heartworms if they are not on a monthly prevention program. Heartworms are typically foot-long worms capable of invading the heart, lungs and blood vessels of your dog. The disease can be fatal as it can cause permanent damage to your dog’s main organs. Heartworm disease is transmitted in dogs from mosquitoes. Adult female heartworms produce baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream. The mosquito picks up these baby worms when it sucks the blood from the infected dog. It takes 10 to 14 days for the baby worms to enter the infective stage. Once the mosquito bites another dog, it deposits the larvae into the dog. It can take 6 months for the babies to mature. Learn more here or call your veterinarian Middletown, DE.