Worming
Heartworm
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic worms that are transmitted to your pet by mosquitoes. The mosquito ingests the microfilariae in the blood of an infected animal which mature in the mosquito into infective larvae.
When an infected mosquito bites your dog, it passes on infective larvae which migrate and develop into adult heartworms. Adult heartworms can be up to 30cms long! The adult heartworms are found in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels. Once here, they reproduce and microfilariae are released into the animals bloodstream where the cycle begins again.
Intestinal Worms
Intestinal worms are parasites that live in your pet’s intestines. They can cause an array of symptoms and can be fatal for young or compromised patients.
Common worms include:​
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Roundworms (Toxocara, Toxascaris)
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Tapeworm (Echinococcus, Dipylidium, Taenia sp.)
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Whipworm (Trichuris)
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Hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum, A. braziliense, A. ceylanicum, Uncinaria sp.)
