Most dogs infected with heartworm can be successfully
treated. The goal of treatment is to kill all adult worms with an adulticide
and all microfilariae with a microfilaricide. It is important to try to
accomplish this goal with a minimum of harmful effects from drugs and a
tolerable degree of complications created by the dying heartworms. Heartworm
infected dogs showing no signs or mild signs have a high success rate with
treatment. Patients with evidence of more severe heartworm disease can be
successfully treated, but the possibility of complications and mortality is
greater. The presence of severe heartworm disease within a patient in addition
to the presence of other life-threatening diseases may prevent treatment for
heartworm infection.
