Canine Heartworm DiseaseDogs are regarded as the definitive host for heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis). But, heartworms can infect more than 30 species of creatures (e.g., coyotes, foxes, wolves and other wild canids, domestic cats and wild felids, ferrets, sea lions, etc.) and individuals as well. When a mosquito carrying infective heartworm larvae bites a puppy and transmits the disease, the larvae grow, migrate and develop from the body over a period of several months to become sexually mature male and female worms. These live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels. As older adults, the rats mate and the females release their offspring (microfilariae), conspicuous: (micro-fil-ar-ee-a), in the blood stream.Offspring can be discovered in the blood (pre-patent period) about six to seven months following the infective larvae from the mosquito go into the dog. The men heartworms (four to six inches in length) and the females (10-12 inches) become completely grown about one year after disease, and their life in dogs seems to average around five to seven years.
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