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