Because preventatives kill microfilariae it is important to know if the dog has an adult heartworm load before beginning monthly preventatives due to the risk of side effects and the potential for false negative microfilariae tests. (svg-vets.com)
Dogs Although funds may not be available for HWD diagnostics in all shelters, an ideal goal is to perform a heartworm antigen and microfilaria test in all dogs at intake, as recommended by the American Heartworm Society (AHS) in their current guidelines.4 dogs for heartworms should communicate to adopters that immediate, and annual, testing is critical in order to detect infection and initiate Shelters that do not test their treatment, if needed. (heartwormsociety.org)
«We probably could do a better job as a health care team than the once or twice a year, face - to - face visits that have become the standard of care [along with] an antigen or microfilariae test and refilling medications,» he said. (todaysveterinarybusiness.com)