The onset and severity of illness in the pet is mainly a manifestation of the amount of adult heartworms present, the era of the disease and the amount of activity of their dog. Dogs with high numbers of worms are usually found to have more severe heart and lung disease affects. Until the number of mature heartworms exceeds 50 in a 25-kg puppy (approximately 55 pounds), almost all of the heartworms reside in the reduced caudal pulmonary arteries (the arteries of the lower lung lobes). Greater quantities of heartworms result in their presence in the right chambers of the heart. In such infections, the most frequent early pathological changes caused by heartworms are due to inflammatory processes that occur in and around the blood vessels of the lower part of the lungs in response to the presence of heartworms. Afterwards, the center may enlarge and eventually become weakened due to an increased workload and congestive heart failure may occur. A very active dog (e.g., working dog) is more likely to develop severe disease with a comparatively few of heartworms than an inactive one (e.g., a lap dog or couch potato). Occasionally, a dog with a large number of heartworms might not only have worms at the center, but also from the caudal vena cava (large primary vein of the body) involving the liver and the center. In the event the heartworms aren't removed surgically, this syndrome causes abrupt collapse and death within two to three times.Canine heartworm infection is widely distributed throughout the USA. Heartworm disease was found in dogs native to all 50 states. All dogs, irrespective of their age, gender, or habitat, are susceptible to heartworm disease. The maximum infection rates (up to 45%) in puppies (not maintained on heartworm preventive) are observed within 150 kilometers of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and across the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. Additional regions of the United States might have lower prevalence rates (5% or less) of canine heartworm disease, while some regions have ecological, mosquito population and dog population factors that allow a greater local incidence of heartworm infection. Regions where heartworm disease is prevalent have diagnosed illnesses in puppies as young as one year old, with the majority of areas diagnosing illnesses primarily between the ages of three and eight years. Even though there are differences in frequency of infection for various groups of dogs, all dogs in most areas should be considered at risk, put on prevention programs and also often examined by a veterinarian. Source: teenagemutantninjaturtlesthings.tumblr.com https://peoplemanagementmag.tumblr.com/