Can a dog survive with heartworm?

As a veterinarian with extensive experience in treating heartworm disease in dogs, I can provide you with an informed perspective on this matter. Dogs can survive with heartworms, but their survival is not guaranteed, and the condition is serious. Heartworm disease is caused by parasitic worms called Dirofilaria immitis that live in the heart and the arteries of the lung. These worms can cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs. Treatment for heartworms is available, but it's not without risks. The treatment aims to kill the adult worms and is typically a multi-step process that can take months. Some dogs may survive the treatment, but the success of treatment can vary. If a follow-up blood antigen test is still positive 6 months after the dog was treated, it suggests that some living worms have survived. However, even in these cases, the health of the dogs is usually much improved because the majority of the heartworms are now gone. It's important to note that prevention is key when it comes to heartworm disease. Regular use of heartworm preventatives can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

So some may survive the treatment. If a follow up blood antigen test is still positive 6 months after the dog was treated, some living worms have survived. The health of these dogs is usually much improved because the majority of the heartworms are now gone.