Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care

April is Heartworm Awareness Month. Heartworms are easily preventable with affordable and safe medications, but the number of infected pets continues to rise. Is there any hope that we could see an end to this parasite?It’s been more than 150 years since a scientist discovered the heartworm parasite of dogs and more than 80 years since the parasite was found in cats. Still, each year hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are diagnosed with this dreaded worm and it is estimated that North American cases are actually in the millions. In all this time, why have we not found a way to combat and stop this plague?Heartworm disease is devastating to the pet’s health. Spread by mosquitoes, this parasite can grow close to two feet long and takes up physical space in the heart’s chambers and pulmonary artery. This means that the dog’s heart must work harder to push the same amount of blood out to the body. Early signs of this disease included fatigue and exercise intolerance, but later signs can include coughing, fluid accumulation in the lungs or abdomen and death. For cats, the heartworm larvae prefer the lungs and can cause vomiting, asthma-like symptoms and even sudden death.Not only is the pet harmed, but the owner is affected as well. Heartworm treatments for small dogs can run in excess of $700 and costs for larger breeds might surpass $1500. Sadly, the infection might be worse for cats since there is no approved treatment for heartworms in our feline friends.Amazingly, veterinarians do have an answer to this problem. Safe, effective heartworm prevention medications exist in a variety of easy to use applications. What’s even more incredible is that the cost of a lifetime of preventive for most pets is significantly less than a single treatment for the disease. So, why do pets continue to suffer and die from a preventable problem?Two radical theories seen on the Internet state that either the heartworm medications are failing or that the parasites are developing a resistance to the drugs. While conspiracy theorists may love these ideas, scientific evidence for both is lacking. Properly stored and administered heartworm preventives have a failure rate of less than 1 in 1 million doses. Likewise, the complex life cycle of the heartworm does not lend itself to developing a natural resistance to medications.We are seeing more mosquitoes in previously mosquito-free areas. Irrigation of dry areas and increased plantings of trees in certain locales can actually help a mosquito population. More mosquitoes mean more opportunities for transmission of heartworms.However, the simplest reason for our failure to control this deadly parasite is simply that we don’t give the preventive as we should. Despite forgetfulness or financial concerns, pet owners must realize that they are on the front lines in this battle and their actions could have dire consequences for their pets.Thankfully pet owners have powerful allies in this war. Your veterinarian can help you pick the best heartworm medication for your pet and your lifestyle. In addition to traditional oral formulations, like Heartgard and Sentinel, there are convenient topical products, like Revolution.Veterinary pharmaceutical companies are also helping. Websites, such as us.merial.com and remindmypet.com offer free email and text message alerts to help owners remember to give the preventive medication on time.Don’t waste time looking for “natural” or organic ways to prevent heartworms; they simply don’t exist. Follow recommendations given by your veterinarian and the American Heartworm Society (www.heartwormsociety.org). It’s the best way to keep your pet and your wallet safe!

Thank you to Veterinary News Network for contributing material for this week’s column.

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