ANIMAL CARE: The Family Pet
We conclude our review of miserable little parasites with everyone’s favorite, the heartworm!
Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne nematode that lives inside the heart and pulmonary arteries of dogs and other animals, including people. These little nastys are quite large (think angel hair spaghetti) and become so numerous that they impede circulation, ultimately causing death similar to heart failure. It is often unappreciated that a dog infected with heartworms may have BAZILLIONS of microscopic larvae in their bloodstream, just waiting for a mosquito to bite and transport them to the next victim.
Labels: ADVICE, Animal Care, Children and Family
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