Common Dog Diseases-Heartworm

心丝虫是一种寄生虫，存活在感染动物的心脏和肺动脉中。蠕虫通过血流危害动脉和重要器官，最终在感染大约六个月后到达肺和心室的血管。数百只蠕虫可以在狗的身体里活五到七年。严重的心丝虫病，可致命
Heartworm is a parasitic worm that lives in the heart and pulmonary arteries of an infected animal. The worms travel through the bloodstream—harming arteries and vital organs as they go—ultimately completing their journey to the vessels of the lung and the heart chamber about six months after the initial infection. Several hundred worms can live in one dog for five to seven years. Heartworm disease is serious and can be fatal.

心丝虫症状
Heartworm Symptoms

心丝虫病的症状可包括：
Symptoms of heartworm can include:

• 呼吸困难Labored breathing
• 咳嗽Coughing
• 呕吐Vomiting
• 体重减轻、无精打采和适度运动后有疲劳感Weight loss, listlessness and fatigue after only moderate exercise

一些狗直到感染后期才会出现症状
Some dogs exhibit no symptoms at all until late stages of infection

心丝虫病原因
Heartworm Causes

蚊子在动物之间传播心丝虫病。
Heartworms are transmitted from animal to animal by mosquitoes.

动物必须携带至少两只心丝虫（一个雄性和一个雌性），以使雌性心丝虫繁殖。
An animal must carry at least two heartworms (a male and a female) in order for female heartworms to reproduce.

雌性心丝虫生产微丝蚴，流入到动物的血液中，但是只有先通过蚊子才能产生心丝虫。
Females produce babies called “microfilaria,” which are shed into an animal’s bloodstream but are not capable of directly causing heartworm without first passing through a mosquito.

微丝蚴必须被蚊子咬住，并在它体内用两周时间转化成感染性幼虫。
Microfilariae must be taken up by biting mosquitoes, and transform into infective larvae over a two-week period inside the insect.

当蚊子下一次叮咬易感染动物时，感染性幼虫进入动物组织并开始向血管迁移。
When a mosquito next bites a susceptible animal, the infective larvae enter the tissues and begin a migration into the blood vessels.

心丝虫作为微小的隐形幼虫进入动物的血液，但在成熟时可达到超过12英寸的长度。
Heartworms enter an animal’s bloodstream as tiny, invisible larvae, but can reach lengths of more than twelve inches at maturity.

诊断心丝虫病
Diagnosing Heartworm

可通过检查、放射照片、超声、血液检查诊断心丝虫病。
Heartworm disease is diagnosed by examination, radiographs or ultrasound, and a veterinarian-administered blood test.

所有的狗都应该在每年春季进行一次血液检查，或者在试用心丝虫病防治方法之前进行常规筛查。
All dogs should be routinely screened with a blood test for heartworm either annually in spring or before being placed on a new prescription for a heartworm preventative.

更容易患心丝虫病的狗
Dogs More Prone to Heartworm

任何狗都可能发生心丝虫感染，但由于蚊子是携带者，因此生活在炎热潮湿地区的狗患病风险最大。
Heartworm infestation can happen to any dog, but since mosquitoes are their carriers, dogs who live in hot, humid regions are at greatest risk.

预防心丝虫病
Preventing Heartworm

心丝虫病预防可以通过咀嚼便宜的药丸或局部药物治疗实现。药丸和局部治疗通常每月给药一次，给6个月以下未进行血液检查的幼犬。老年动物在开始服药之前，必须对其进行筛查。
Heartworm is easily preventable with an inexpensive, chewable pill or topical medication available as a vet’s prescription. The pills or topical are usually administered monthly and can be given to dogs under 6 months of age without a blood test. Older animals must be screened for the disease prior to starting medication.

美国心丝虫病学会建议您常年给狗喂预防药。这不仅避免了失误，而且许多产品也有效防止其他肠道寄生虫。
The American Heartworm Society recommends keeping your dog on the medication all year long. Not only does this avoid errors, but many of the products also prevent other intestinal parasites.

心丝虫病治疗
Heartworm Treatment

诊断后，应对感染的狗进行彻底检查，以评估最佳治疗过程和潜在风险。
After diagnosis, a thorough examination of the infected dog should be conducted to evaluate the best course of treatment and the potential risks involved.

最常见的治疗方法是通过给狗的肌肉注射一系列的杀生物剂。这种治疗成功率很高，通常需要住院治疗。
The most common course of treatment is a series of injections of drugs called adulticides into the dogs’ muscle. This cure has a high success rate and usually requires hospitalization.

所有治疗方案都需要几周的运动限制，还是有一定风险的。疾病预防是一个更好和更安全的选择。
All treatment protocols require several weeks of exercise restriction after treatment and are not without risk. Disease prevention is a much better and safer option.

治愈后，您的狗要开始食用预防性药物，以减少再次感染的风险。
After treatment, your dog should be placed on a preventative medication to reduce the risk of infection.