Regular Heartworm Reminders

It is well worth your time to discuss how your clinics are spreading the word about heartworm prevention and how you can help.

The same week I started doing some research for this column, I sat down to brush my dog after a walk around our campground, and there they were – the first two ticks of the year trapped in the brush. The third happened to be crawling on me, which caused me to have a serious case of the heebie jeebies. It was a timely reminder (with a serious ick factor) of how important it is that my buddy is getting year-round protection against ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and the many – and increasing number – of diseases they cause.

I’m always amazed when I see new research every year that shows the high number of pet owners who don’t take parasite prevention seriously, or still mistakenly believe that their animals aren’t at risk. Unfortunately, this year is no exception. For example, rates of heartworm disease are still trending upward nationwide. The first case of canine heartworm was diagnosed over 100 years ago. Preventives have been on the market for nearly 50 years. How is this possible?

Disease-transmitting mosquitoes exist in all 50 states, yet a survey from Banfield Pet Hospital this spring showed that nearly 40% of pet owners don’t believe their pet is at risk for heartworm disease, and 21% don’t believe that mosquitoes in their state carry heartworm. Nearly 30% said their pet isn’t on preventive medication at all, which may explain why 32% were neutral or unconcerned about heartworm disease, since the condition is treatable. Clearly, there is much work to be done when it comes to educating pet owners!

Send a strong heartworm message

Heartworm is a life-threatening parasite that is 100% preventable. To stop the increase, it’s critical that veterinary staff proactively explain the threat of heartworm, and why pets should be on year-round preventive. Obviously, increasing testing and compliance will also increase their bottom line.

It’s well worth your time to discuss how your clinics are spreading the word about heartworm prevention and how you can help – with materials for the clinic, links to online resources to share on social media, or reminders to send via text or email. One strong message is the fact that with a single heartworm-positive dog in a neighborhood, over 70% of the mosquitoes in that dog’s immediate vicinity have been shown to carry heartworm larvae. Not every clinic has a preserved heart full of heartworms in a jar like one of my clinics did, but maybe they should. It was a very effective visual tool!

Back to those ticks – which along with mosquitoes, are the principal transmitters of both human and pet vector-borne pathogens – and a single tick can transmit multiple infectious agents. Ticks that carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, tularemia, and other pathogens continue to increase and spread throughout the U.S. Risks have increased due to several factors including habitat changes, changes in wildlife populations and increased interactions with wildlife in newly developed or re-claimed areas, and short and long-term changes in weather conditions.

Veterinarians shouldn’t assume that their customers are aware of the increase in tick distribution and numbers over just the past several years, and the threats they pose to both people and animals. Pet owners love to travel with their best buddies and may have no idea of the regional disease risk where they’re traveling. Preventing ticks should be discussed at every health check, and regular reminders and alerts can inform pet owners about increased risks and prevention recommendations in their area. The Companion Animal Parasite Council’s (CAPC) pathogen prevalence maps at capcvet.org. are a great resource with excellent graphics.

Intestinal parasites can cause serious problems for pets – particularly very young or geriatric animals – and many of them can be transmitted to humans. Hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, giardia and coccidia are some the most prevalent. Pets may not show symptoms until an infestation has become severe, so clinic staff should stress the importance of preventive care and regular fecal exams. Asking questions about the pet’s habits can help identify those who may need more than just an annual test for parasites. Is the cat allowed to roam outdoors? Does the pup make regular trips to the dog park (a major breeding ground for hookworms), go for walks on popular trails, or get to swim or roam off-leash at the lake? Clinics who take the time to ask these types of questions can make personalized prevention and testing protocols that will protect not just the health of the pet, but the whole family.

Today, there is a plethora of parasite prevention products for dogs and cats in oral, topical and injectable form and collars, including combination products for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and intestinal parasites. Depending on the product, pet owners can choose from monthly, semiannual or yearly administration, and in some cases, generic options make them even more affordable. With so many choices of effective treatments, be ready to discuss which will work best for your clinics, based on their region and demographics.

Even with so many options to prevent parasites, it’s obvious that there is a serious knowledge gap with many pet owners about the potential health threats parasites pose to their animals and to themselves. You can provide value by helping your customers provide the best resources and products to help their clients understand the importance of parasite protection.

CAPC’S 30-Day Parasite Forecast Maps provide a local forecast for every county in the continental U.S. on a monthly basis, allowing clinics to proactively make recommendations to protect their clients. petdiseasealerts.org

Dawn Singleton-Olson has more than 25 years of experience in the animal health industry, including distributor sales, manufacturing, practice management and as a zoo supervisor. She is a volunteer, fundraiser and board trustee for several humane organizations and the Omaha (Neb.) Police Mounted Patrol.

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/luplupme

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/Denny Fachrul Rozzy