heartworm

noun heart·worm \ ˈhärt-ˌwərm \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

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

Recent Examples of heartworm from the Web

Previously, volunteers managed routine care for shelter animals, such as administering intake vaccinations, flea treatments and heartworm tests.

— kristi nix, Houston Chronicle, "Missouri City Animal Shelter operating costs skyrocket following review by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners," 26 Mar. 2018
Courage also suffers from heartworm, according to Detroit Dog Rescue's Facebook page.

— detroit free press staff, Detroit Free Press, "Dog found with hook in neck is healing after surgery," 7 Feb. 2018
The clinic also offers heartworm testing, microchipping and vaccines.

— vincent t. davis, San Antonio Express-News, "Education, more tickets help ACS make headway on San Antonio’s roaming dog problem," 7 Jan. 2018
Susan Fant Votaw, an animal rescue volunteer with the POLA Foundation who retrieved the dog, now named Justice, from the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter, said the young female pitbull mix has received her first round of shots and heartworm treatments.

— lex talamo, The Seattle Times, "Police cadet recognized for saving abandoned dog’s life," 24 Dec. 2017
Shiner is up to date on vaccinations, microchipped, heartworm negative and neutered.

— star-telegram, "Adopt me! Meet Shiner," 19 Dec. 2017
Maddie, then 13 years old, had contracted a tough case of drug-resistant heartworms.

— beau evans, NOLA.com, "Rare drug-resistant heartworm found in Metairie dog could help improve testing," 13 Dec. 2017
And in five years, Franklin’s Friends has raised more than $1 million — money that has gone to canine flu vaccines, heartworm treatment, spay and neuter surgeries, fighting cancer and helping pets that can’t walk.

— kate santich, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Couples' holiday rum balls raise big bucks for pet charity," 13 Dec. 2017
All pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped, up-to-date on vaccines and heartworm tested.

— Houston Chronicle, "Katy-area calendar of events," 30 Oct. 2017

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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

heartworm

noun heart·worm \ -ˌwərm \

medical 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