Heartworm Disease

What you should know about heartworm disease

Heartworm disease is a preventable, but serious and potentially fatal, parasitic disease that primarily affects dogs, cats and ferrets. It can also infect wild animals, such as exotic canids. There are documented human infections, but they are thought to be rare and do not result in clinical disease.

How is heartworm disease transmitted and what does it cause?
Heartworms are transmitted from animal to animal by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, young heartworms called microfilariae enter into that mosquito's system. Within two weeks, the microfilariae develop into infective larvae which are then injected into another animal through the mosquito's bite. Over the next six months, the infected larvae mature into adults: during the first three months, the larvae migrate through the animal's body eventually reaching the blood vessels of the lungs; during the last three months, the larvae become adults and enter the heart. Once in the heart, the heartworms will continue to grow up to 14 inches in length. In time, the worms will injure the blood vessels, resulting in severe lung and heart disease. If worms of both sexes are present, they will create new microfilariae that can damage other organs when the animal's immune system attempts to combat the infection. This life cycle continues when a mosquito bites the infected animal and ingests the microfilariae. Heartworms may survive for 5 to 7 years in dogs and 2 to 5 years in cats.

Where is heartworm disease found?
Geographically, heartworms are a potential threat in every state except Alaska, as well as in many other countries around the world. All dogs, regardless of age, sex, or living environment, are susceptible to heartworm infection. Indoor, as well as outdoor, cats are also at risk for the disease. If you plan to travel with your dog or cat to a different part of the country, ask your veterinarian about the risk of heartworm disease in the area where you are going to relocate or visit.

How can I tell if my pet has heartworm disease?
Dogs: If your dog has been recently or mildly infected with heartworms, it may initially show no signs of disease. However, as the disease progresses, your dog may cough, become lethargic, lose its appetite or have difficulty breathing. You may notice that your dog seems to tire rapidly after only moderate exercise.

Your veterinarian will test your dog's blood for the presence of heartworms. Further tests, such as chest x-rays, a blood profile and an echocardiogram, may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, to evaluate the severity of the disease, and to determine the best treatment protocol for your dog.

Cats: Signs of possible heartworm infection in cats include coughing, respiratory distress, and vomiting. (In rare cases, a cat may suddenly die from heartworms.)

The diagnosis of a heartworm-infected cat is more difficult than with dogs. A series of different kinds of tests may be needed to help determine the likelihood of heartworm infection being the cause of your cat's illness and, even then, the results may not be conclusive.

How can my pet be treated?
Dogs: As with most medical problems, it is much better to prevent heartworm than to treat it. However, if your dog does become infected with heartworms there is an FDA-approved treatment available. There is some risk involved in treating a dog for heartworms. However, serious complications are much less likely in dogs that are otherwise in good health and if the disease is detected early.

The goal of heartworm treatment is to kill the adult worms and microfilariae that are present in your dog's body. While your dog is hospitalized and for a period of time afterwards, it will require complete rest and may need additional medications to help limit inflammatory reaction as the worms die and are absorbed by the body.

Cats: There is currently no effective and safe treatment for heartworm infection in cats. If your cat is diagnosed with heartworms, your veterinarian may recommend medications to limit the inflammatory response and the resulting heartworm disease.

Can heartworms be surgically removed?
Some veterinarians are equipped for surgical removal of heartworms from dogs and/or cats. This is a high-risk procedure and is typically reserved for severe cases.

Can heartworm disease be prevented?
Heartworm disease is almost 100% preventable in dogs and cats. There are several FDA-approved heartworm preventives available in a variety of formulations. Your veterinarian can recommend the best method of prevention based upon your pet's risk factors and lifestyle.

A blood test for existing heartworm infection is recommended before beginning a prevention program to confirm that your pet is not already infected with the disease. In addition, annual re-testing is recommended to check your pet's status and ensure that the appropriate medication is being prescribed.

Heartworm infections are preventable.
Check with your veterinarian today to help ensure that your pet is protected.

The AVMA appreciates the assistance of the
American Heartworm Society
www.heartwormsociety.org

Article from www.avma.org

Rottweiler Dog

A Joke makes us smile: Rottweiler named JESUS

There is a thief breaking into a home.
Once he’s inside, out of darkness comes a voice.
“Jesus is watching you.”
He said, “Who said that?”
He looked around with his flashlight and spotted a parrot.
He asked the parrot, “Did you say Jesus is watching you?”
The parrot said, “Yes.”
The thief asked, “Are you Jesus?”
The parrot said, “No, I’m Moses.” And the thief said, “What kind of crazy people would name a parrot Moses?”
The parrot replied, “The same kind of people who would name a 160 lb. Rottweiler ‘Jesus’.

Expensive Pet Care?

Does your vet take advantage of your pet visit?

I love my dog so much I would do anything to make her healthy and happy. Her health and happiness are my most concern because she can not express with words to let me know that she feels good or bad. It comes to her health, there is no amount of money can stop me to fix the problem.

However, lately our vet hospital visits have been very expensive. Every visit costs around $200 even a regular visit and often times the hospital requests tests are not necessary.

For example, my dog has been taking pills for anti-fungal for her skin. We were told that she might need to take those pills forever as need bases. Because some reason she has a skin condition that the vet cannot find the cause even though she went through several tests. The vet told us that we can get the refill however as she needs. When her pills ran out I called the vet hospital for the refill, they told me that the doctor has to see her again for her condition before we can get the refill. When I took her to the hospital, the vet wanted to take another test for her intestine because some times the pills cause damage. I didn't see my dog had neither a sign of discomfort nor a health related problem. I have been monitoring her food intake before giving her pills. Anyway, the vet took her blood for the test.

By the time when everything is over at the vet hospital, we had to pay about $176 for refill. The test came back everything was fine.

Another example, the other day we ran out of our dog's heart guard that she has been taking since we got her. We purchased her heart guard at the same vet hospital for every six months since one and a half years ago. So, we went to the vet hospital to buy a box of heart guard as usual. The vet hospital told us that we can not get that without the heart guard test by the doctor. I left that hospital without looking back.

Is that me? I felt that the vet hospital is taking adventage of pet owners. I'm even afraid to call the vet for any question on the phone because they might charge me for talking to them.

I'm wondering. Is this a normal practice?

Days of Shiba's Lives - Pookie and other Baby Shibas

Dog's Holloween Custom

Pookies Holloween Pictures

She hated the costume: This is mortifying.

Angel? Noh, it's not me.

This is Pookie's Birday Cake. She's turning 3-years old.

Blogger Buzz: So long, and thanks for all the zen!

Blogger Buzz: So long, and thanks for all the zen!

Blogger Buzz: Announcing Google Weblogs (beta)

Blogger Buzz: Announcing Google Weblogs (beta)