During the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum in Baltimore on June 1, the AHS announced the «2005 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of
Heartworm Infection in Dogs,» and the «2005 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Cats.»
It is one of the most widely used medications for preventing
heartworm infection in dogs (it's also used in cats for the same purpose but to a lesser extent).
Prevention and Treatment: There are treatments available for
heartworm infection in dogs, though difficult and costly.
Actually the southeastern part of the United States has the highest incidence of
heartworm infection in dogs.
(1996) Comparison of eight diagnostic blood tests for
heartworm infection in dogs.
Ivermectin is one of the most widely used medications for preventing
heartworm infection in dogs.
Mississippi has the highest prevalence of
heartworm infection in dogs in the USA, but pets in every state suffer.
While treatment is available for
heartworm infection in dogs, prevention is much safer and without side effects.
Treatment for
heartworm infection in dogs is available, but is costly and requires strict supervision by both veterinarians and owners — and a month or more of cage confinement.
In addition, fecal exams for the screening of intestinal parasites and blood test for
heartworm infection in dogs are recommended annually.
Treatment for active
heartworm infection in dogs consists of a series of injections given in the muscle of the back.
While a moderate
heartworm infection in a dog would involve 25 - 50 adult heartworms, infected cats typically have less than six adult worms.
We recommend that HEARTGARD Plus is used monthly as it helps prevent
heartworm infection in your dog — and can help your dog avoid the risk, stress, and long periods of confinement that go along with treatment for canine heartworm disease.
It is approved by the FDA in the prevention of
heartworm infections in dogs especially those brought about by Dirofilaria immitis as well as in the control and elimination of other nematode genera such as hookworms and whipworms.
A routine, yearly blood test performed by your veterinarian is an accurate way to detect
heartworm infection in your dog.2 Start by talking to your veterinarian, and ask about protecting your dog from heartworm disease year - round with Trifexis ® (spinosad + milbemycin oxime).
In a free Maddie's Fund ® webcast, Brian A. DiGangi, DVM, DABVP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, presents a review of the current recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
heartworm infections in dogs with an emphasis on practical, safe and effective management strategies for shelter dogs.
Even though we do have treatments for existing
heartworm infection in a dog, we now understand that the damage the worms do when they live in the heart and lungs of the pet can be irreversible after the infection is cured.
Numerous blood tests are available for detecting
heartworm infections in dogs, and your veterinarian will perform the test most appropriate for your dog.
The best way to eliminate the risk of
heartworm infection in your dog is to institute a year - round prevention program.
Not exact matches
Otherwise, the only other real option to treat an active
heartworm infection in cats is to administer the same medication used for
dogs... which is notoriously toxic to cats and can cause lethal damage on its own.
«Single sex
heartworm infections, host immune responses affecting the presence of circulating microfilariae and the administration of
heartworm preventives can be factors which produce occult
infections in dogs.»
Gollum's Fund - a special fund created to provide
heartworm prevention for all
dogs in our care, to treat any
dog affected by this terrible disease, and to educate the public about the risk and prevention of
heartworm infection.
Although some areas are at higher risk than others,
heartworm infection has been found
in dogs throughout all of the United States.
Heartgard prevents
heartworm infection and
heartworm disease
in dogs and cats by terminating
heartworm larvae
in the tissue stage.
Factors affecting the level of risk of
heartworm infection include the climate (temperature, humidity), the species of mosquitoes
in the area, presence of mosquito breeding areas, and presence of animal reservoirs (infected
dogs, foxes, coyotes).
Heartgard & Heartgard Plus pet meds prevent
heartworm infection and
heartworm disease
in dogs and cats by killing the larvae
in the tissue stage.
Canine
heartworm infection is found throughout the United States, and infected
dogs have been noted
in all 50 states.
Heartworm preventatives are very effective, but each year, we detect
infection in dogs that have been receiving preventative therapy.
In our area there is also a significant risk to
dogs and cats for
heartworm infections.
Washington State U. Vet School says, re ivermectin: «While the dose of ivermectin used to prevent
heartworm infection (6 micrograms per kilogram) is safe
in dogs with the [MDR1] mutation, higher doses such as those used for treating mange (300 - 600 micrograms per kilogram)[are not].»
Chest X-rays to check for pneumonia or abnormal lung appearance may be recommended as well as blood tests to determine if an
infection is present
in the
dog, and to test for
heartworm disease.
Heartworm infection is an easily preventable disease
in dogs.
Hypersensitivity reactions have not been observed
in dogs with patent
heartworm infections administered three times the recommended dose of Revolution.
For example, the Interceptor or Heartgard Plus brands of
heartworm tablets will help treat roundworm
infection in your
dog.
Heartworm infection in cats is very different than
in dogs, but it still has the potential to be just as deadly.
Heartworm infection in both cats and
dogs is diagnosed by a blood test.
Dogs in the US who are rescued from Southern states have a high risk of
infection, so it is especially important to have their blood tested for
heartworm proteins.
One additional but important difference
in the course of feline
heartworm infection as compared to that
in dogs is the relative lack of microfilariae.
Overall, the distribution of feline
heartworm infection in the United States seems to parallel that of
dogs but with lower total numbers.
In experimental infections of heartworm larvae in cats, the percentage of worms developing into the adult stage is low (0 % to 25 %) compared to dogs (40 % to 90 %
In experimental
infections of
heartworm larvae
in cats, the percentage of worms developing into the adult stage is low (0 % to 25 %) compared to dogs (40 % to 90 %
in cats, the percentage of worms developing into the adult stage is low (0 % to 25 %) compared to
dogs (40 % to 90 %).
Canine
heartworm infections occur
in dogs of all ages, breeds and sex,
in all 50 states.
The true rate of feline
heartworm infection is hard to pinpoint due to difficulties
in diagnosis; however, most studies suggest that cats are infected at somewhere between 5 and 15 % of the rate of
dog infections in the same geographic area.6
There is no scientific evidence that any treatment intended to kill adult
heartworms in dogs will safely do so
in cats and increase their
infection survival rate.6 Administration of melarsomine, the compound labeled for treatment of adult
heartworms in dogs, is not as effective
in cats and its administration is frequently fatal.7, 8 For these reasons, «treatment» of feline
heartworm disease focuses on controlling clinical signs related to the disease process.
«Current canine guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of
heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)
infection in dogs.»
Blood tests will not detect
heartworms in a
dog until the larvae have matured into adult worms, which takes about six months following initial
infection.
ANNOUNCER: Trifexis kills fleas and prevents infestations, prevents
heartworm disease, and treats and controls adult hook -, round - and whipworm
infections in dogs to deliver 3 -
in - 1 protection every month.
It's also effective
in protecting your
dog against mosquitoes and potentially from
heartworm infection brought about by these winged creatures.
Trifexis is indicated for the prevention of
heartworm disease
in dogs, for the prevention and treatment of flea infestations on
dogs and the treatment and control of adult hookworm *, adult roundworm and adult whipworm
infections in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age or older and 5 pounds of body weight or greater.
It's a safe way to prevent
heartworm disease as well as treat and control adult hookworm *, roundworm and whipworm
infections in dogs.
Regardless, if left untreated,
heartworm disease can be deadly.2 Your veterinarian should perform a yearly blood test, which is an important part of your
dog's routine health check,
in order to detect a
heartworm infection.