Are Dogs with Heartworm Contagious?

Heartworm disease is not contagious, meaning that a dog cannot catch the disease from being near an infected dog. Heartworm disease is only spread through the bite of a mosquito. Inside a dog, a heartworm's lifespan is 5 to 7 years.

Can heartworm in dogs be cured?

Your veterinarian will advise you on the best treatment approach for dogs diagnosed with advanced heartworm disease. Treatment to kill adult heartworms. An injectable drug, melarsomine (brand name Immiticide®), is given to kill adult heartworms. Melarsomine kills the adult heartworms in the heart and adjacent vessels.

What is the survival rate for dogs with heartworms?

While most dogs (about 98 percent) treated with heartworm disease will clear the infection and not require additional treatment, there is the chance that a second round of medication is needed.