Is Heartworm Directly Contagious?
Hi –
I am fostering a dog while a family relocates. I
just found out that their dog is not on heartworm
medication but mine are. What risk, if any, are
my dogs at from the unprotected dog?
Cindy
Michigan
None whatsoever.
Heartworms are blood parasites that are spread by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a cat or dog, microscopic larvae are injected into the bloodstream. Over several months, the larvae mature into worms that live in the heart and the arteries leading out of the heart.
Cats and dogs suffering from heartworm infestation may show symptoms of heart failure such as coughing, shortness of breath and decreased exercise tolerance. Vomiting is a common symptom in cats.
Fortunately, heartworms cannot spread directly from one pet to another. A mosquito must be involved in the process. What’s more, heartworm larvae must develop in the mosquito for 12 – 19 days before they can infest another pet. Therefore, even if a mosquito bites the foster dog and then bites one of your dogs, your dogs won’t be at increased risk.
Finally, you state that your dogs are on a heartworm preventative. If you use a high-quality preventative as directed, it should afford excellent protection against the parasite regardless of other circumstances. In other words, you don’t need to worry.
You have questions. 
How do i keep my hairless dogs skin soft in the winter when he is always dressed in clothes and gets driied out
I have a 4 1/2 yr old cat that in the last 2 days hasn’t eat’n much, then yesterday (12-7) she ate good. She came home that night and could barely walk, was having trouble breathing. We took her to the 24 hr animal hospital and couldn’t figure anything out. gave her some antibiotics and sent us home. Today she’s been laying around barley breathing still. then she spit up a little in my daughters room and a worm cam out. I figured it to be heartworm! I did a little research on it, what would you suggest I do next? PLEASE HELP!!
Heartworms cannot be coughed up. The worm you saw may be a lungworm or an intestinal worm.
Your cat sounds very ill. I would recommend that you take her to a veterinary facility (perhaps a new one) for an examination, blood tests, stool tests, IV fluids, and X-rays.
I hope things turn out OK!
Dr. B.
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