As you can see by the map above, Illinois has a very high prevalence of heartworms. White Oaks West Animal Hospital recommends year-round heartworm prevention and annual blood testing for ALL dogs.
To learn more about Heartworm Disease in dogs and cats, go to the KNOW HEARTWORMS website: http://www.knowheartworms.org/
The American Heartworm Society Announces New 2007 Guidelines
The "2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Cats," and the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Dogs" are posted at www.heartwormsociety.org and updated on an ongoing basis. Highlights include the recommendation of annual testing, retesting when switching products, and support of the recommendation for year-round prevention.
"The goal of our organization is to educate the veterinarian profession and our membership," says Charles Thomas Nelson, DVM and President of the American Heartworm Society. "In this day and age, veterinarians continue their education in so many ways, including on the Internet," Nelson says. "Because some veterinarians may only go to one, large multi-state meeting all year, we needed to make sure the information is accessible to the entire profession," he added.
"Each year, dogs and cats die needlessly from complications to this very preventable disease," says Nelson. "These new guidelines are based upon the latest, ongoing research conducted around the world," he adds. The research is done by several sources and the AHS compiles it to create the guidelines. These sources include pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories and practicing veterinarians and parasitologists at several universities.
The American Heartworm Society wants veterinarians and pet owners to know the following:
Annual Testing is Necessary
In the past, if a dog had been on preventive methods routinely, it was not necessary to test every year, perhaps only every two to three years. But because of some concerns with breaks regarding animals on preventives that still contracted heartworms, the AHS recommends a more conservative testing routine. It may be too difficult to document when an animal hasn't been checked in three years, and therefore annual testing will ensure that an infection is caught in plenty of time to effectively manage it.
Switching Prevention Methods Requires Additional Testing
Pet owners sometimes switch between prevention medications, for any number of reasons. In these instances, there are specific time periods to retest in order to ensure the products have been effective. When switching from one product to another, it is necessary to test more often.
Year-Round Prevention is Supported
Most veterinarians recommend year-round heartworm prevention, even in seasonal areas. One reason for this is compliance - making sure the medicine has been given properly by the pet owner. Surveys show that probably only 75 percent of the doses that are prescribed are given. But, even if doses are accidentally skipped, the drug is still beneficial to the pet. If given consistently over a 12-month period, it's possible to actually stop worms from developing into adults. Also, monthly heartworm preventives have activity against intestinal parasites which inadvertently infect three to six million people every year. These preventives protect pets and people.
Education is Key
Getting the word out to the entire profession and to the general public is a goal of the American Heartworm Society. Therefore, you can find the guidelines posted on the website at www.heartwormsociety.org.
"We wanted to make these guidelines available to everyone, so that the entire veterinary profession and the pet-owning public will have access to information based on research on the ways to diagnose, prevent and manage this disease," concludes Nelson.
Mosquitoes may keep biting, but the American Heartworm Society guidelines can help take some of the sting out of heartworm disease.
Founded during the Heartworm Symposium of 1974, the American Heartworm Society was formed to facilitate and encourage the generation and dissemination of information about heartworm disease and encourages adoption of standardized procedures for its diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The American Heartworm Society stimulates and financially supports research, which furthers knowledge and understanding of the disease. Its headquarters are located in Batavia, IL.
