| * Canine heartworm infection occurs all | | | | century ago in dogs, and was discovered in |
| across the United States. Heartworm infection | | | | cats in the 1920's. Since then scientists |
| has been found in pet and wild dogs in all 50 | | | | have devised diagnostic tests, preventives |
| states, each of which have there own areas | | | | and treatments, but the disease still |
| where the disease is an ongoing problem | | | | spreads.When you are are visiting your local |
| (these are known as "endemic" areas).* All | | | | vet, you may notice posters which show the |
| dogs regardless of their age, sex, or habitat | | | | infested heart loaded with long fine |
| are susceptible to heartworm infection. The | | | | spaghetti like worms, this is too remind pet |
| highest infection rates (up to 45%) in dogs | | | | owners not to gamble that their dog or cat |
| not maintained on heartworm preventive are | | | | will never be bitten by an infected mosquito. |
| seen within 150 miles of the Atlantic coast | | | | Heartworm prevention is simple with regular |
| from Texas to New Jersey and along the | | | | dosing with preventive medication. If the pet |
| Mississippi River and its major tributaries. | | | | has heartworm infestation this is dangerous; |
| Other areas of the United States have lower | | | | untreated dogs die and treated dogs go |
| incidence rates (5% or less) of canine | | | | through weeks of discomfort while the worms |
| heartworm disease, though even in those | | | | are killed and expelled from their bodies. |
| states some local regions have environmental, | | | | TestingHeartworms can be detected by blood |
| mosquito, and dog population factors that | | | | test. X-rays can also detect the changes in |
| allow a higher incidence of heartworm | | | | the heart and lungs caused by the presence of |
| infection.* Badly affected regions have | | | | adult heartworms in these |
| heartworm infections diagnosed in dogs as | | | | organs.PreventionPreventive doses come in |
| young as 1 year, with most areas diagnosing | | | | oral and topical versions, products like |
| infections primarily between the ages of 3 | | | | Heartguard, Interceptor, heartworm treatment |
| and 8 years of age.* The infection rate in | | | | and ProHeart are given monthly. Revolution is |
| male dogs is as much as 4 times that of | | | | a new preventive applied topically. Some of |
| female dogs and dogs housed outdoors are 4 to | | | | these drugs also kill other parasitic worms, |
| 5 times more likely to be infected than | | | | and Revolution also acts against fleas, |
| indoor dogs.* Although there are differences | | | | ticks, and mites.Many veterinarians including |
| in frequency of infection for various groups | | | | the team at Vetstop recommend a year-round |
| of dogs, all dogs in endemic regions should | | | | heartworm prevention to guard against the |
| be considered at risk and placed on | | | | occasional infected mosquito flying about in |
| surveillance/prevention | | | | even relatively mild winters. The old saying |
| s.IntroductionHeartworm was once considered a | | | | applies; "Prevention is better than |
| parasite common in southern climates, it is | | | | cure".Copyright 2006 Paul NelsonPaul Nelson |
| now recognized as a major, global pest | | | | writes articles for Pet Lovers, see more at |
| affecting dogs, foxes, wolves and | | | | our site below. |
| coyotes.Heartworm was discovered nearly a | | | | |