Comments on: Do wild dogs catch heart worm?

By: Robyn S

Robyn S — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:53 +0000

Yes they do. Most wild dogs are flea infested, mangy, and are loaded with heartworms. Most wild dogs don’t live very long for these reasons.

Heartworm is transmitted through mosquitoes – when one bites an infected dog, then moves on, it will infect the next dog it bites.

By: Lori

Lori — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:53 +0000

I don’t see a reason why wild dogs can not get heart worms…

Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes. The mosquito transfers larvae into the dog when it feeds. These larvae migrate to the heart, where they develop into adult worms. The adult female worm gives birth to microscopically small worms (microfilaria) which circulate in the dog’s bloodstream.

In order to continue the life cycle, a mosquito must ingest blood infected with microfilaria, which can then develop into infective larvae inside the mosquito. The disease can not be transferred from dog to dog – the mosquito is required as an intermediate host.

By: David

David — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:53 +0000

They may depens of what they eat

By: Julie D.

Julie D. — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:53 +0000

Of course they do. Do you think that wild dogs aren’t around infected mosquito’s? When this happens, they die, eventually.

By: scrgrl

scrgrl — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:53 +0000

Of course they do. The reason that our dogs need to get treated is that we care about them. Nobody knows when wild animals die and few care. If we have a dog, they have wormed their way into our hearts. We are concerned about their health and try to give them the best lives possible. Thus, heartworm medicine.

By: Qatie

Qatie — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:53 +0000

Yes, wild dog species get heartworm and other parasites all the time. Heartworm is a major cause of declining red wolf populations. Wild dog species are likely one of the main reservoirs of heartworms.

Domestic dogs live longer, healthier lives than wild species BECAUSE they have humans willing to provide preventative medical care, like dewormers, heartworm meds and flea/tick preventatives.

I’m not sure why you find it funny that tons of wild animals are dying horrible deaths of rabies, distemper, heartworms, etc or leading miserable lives infested with fleas, ticks (and tick-borne diseases), mange and intestinal parasites because they have no one to vaccinate them, give them flea and heartworm prevention or treat them for worms.

By: rosewhitefield

rosewhitefield — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:53 +0000

Yes, any dog who is bitten by mosquitos can develop heartworm. This is one reason why dogs who live in the wild have much shorter lifespans than domestic dogs (same goes for feral cats, rabbits, etc)

By: A Great Dane Lady

A Great Dane Lady — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:30:52 +0000

Some of the natural rearing groups say that wolves, foxes, and coyotes have a system that fights off heartworm or other worms. Think about it, they eat raw. They get no meds for fleas, ticks, worms, or heartworm. Seems like they would all die out as a species from all the diseases. Yet they don’t.

Could it be that the immune systems of our dogs are damaged from all the chemicals and kibble? The natural rearing groups don’t use any of the chemicals. They do have their dogs tested, but they don’t get heartworm.