heartworm
noun
heart·worm
ˈhärt-ˌwərm 
: 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
Examples of heartworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That includes preventive treatments for fleas and ticks and heartworm and vaccinations for parvo, distemper and rabies, says Kohl.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2024
Even a routine checkup for vaccines, heartworm prevention, and diet recommendations can cost a couple of hundred dollars, and any medical procedure starts at $1,000 and can reach $10,000 quickly.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2024
While being treated for heartworm, King was limited to leash walks only, and Humane Society of Pinellas staff members would take him out on long walks to keep him entertained.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2024
However, coyotes can contract rabies, distemper, parvo, heartworms and other diseases that can be passed to pets.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Axios, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heartworm 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2024
Even a routine checkup for vaccines, heartworm prevention, and diet recommendations can cost a couple of hundred dollars, and any medical procedure starts at $1,000 and can reach $10,000 quickly.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2024
While being treated for heartworm, King was limited to leash walks only, and Humane Society of Pinellas staff members would take him out on long walks to keep him entertained.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2024
However, coyotes can contract rabies, distemper, parvo, heartworms and other diseases that can be passed to pets.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Axios, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heartworm
Dictionary Entries Near heartworm
Cite this Entry
“Heartworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartworm. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
heartworm
noun
heart·worm
-ˌwərm
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share