Definition of heartworm
: a filarial worm (Dirofilaria immitis) that is a parasite especially in the right heart of dogs and is transmitted by mosquitoes; also : infestation or disease caused by the heartworm
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Recent Examples of heartworm from the Web
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The adoption fee of $60 includes spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, heartworm or feline leukemia testing and necessary vaccinations, except rabies.
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Get your dog tested for heartworm each year, and ask your vet about flea and tick preventative medications.
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Strangers help dogs get heartworm treatment — and homes » Shelter populations routinely surge in the summer months.
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But these just prevent the heartworm parasite –– not the mosquitoes themselves.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heartworm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of heartworm
1877
Medical Dictionary
heartworm
playMedical Definition of heartworm
1: a filarial worm of the genus Dirofilaria (D. immitis) that is especially common in warm regions, lives as an adult in the right heart especially of dogs, and discharges active larvae into the circulating blood whence they may be picked up by mosquitoes and transmitted to other hosts and that may infect humans causing local pulmonary infarction but does not achieve sexual maturity in the human organism
2: infestation with or disease especially of dogs caused by the heartworm, resulting typically in gasping, coughing, and nervous disorder, and when severe commonly leading to death
Learn More about heartworm
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See words that rhyme with heartworm Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heartworm
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