Seems like it's a little early to be worried about these little creatures, doesn't it? In case you don't have a passion (or even a passing interest) in insects, I'll let you know - it's a mosquito. Don't worry, there isn't an outbreak of malaria or Dengue fever in Michigan. But there has been a change in our heartworm recommendations. And that is something that you SHOULD be worried about.
I'll admit, when I checked my idea list for blogs, heartworm disease didn't really jump off the page as a timely topic. I am one of the very first to expound upon the benefits of heartworm preventative and the evils of heartworm disease. I have been a pet owner for 13 years (and studying to become a veterinarian for 7 years before that!) and I have always passionately believed in heartworm preventative. But I'm a pretty smart cookie - no commentary on that please. I know the weather patterns. I know if there are mosquitoes in my yard - or possibly in my house. No mosquitoes meant no heartworm, right?
At the start of my career, my dog Surfer received heartworm preventative from April 1 through January 1 - also known as mosquito season. Sometimes I'd give a dose on February 1 if the January weather was mild. I tested Surf every March before starting my preventative. This is what I have always recommended to our clients. Surfer lived a long, happy, and heartworm free life until he went to heaven two and a half years ago. Despite the number of remote controls he destroyed, I firmly believe that he is in heaven.
Two years ago we rescued a puppy named Tugger. Tugg has been on year-round heartworm preventative from the moment he entered my house. I don't love Tugger any more fiercely than I loved Surfer. So why the change? Two big reasons - I have children and heartworms seem to be more prevalent than ever.
Got Kids? Get year round preventative.
My kids have a sand box. They run around the yard in their bare feet. My younger son was once found with cat litter in his mouth (the dog does it, why can't he?) The underlying concern with all of those behaviors is intestinal parasites. Dogs (and cats) can carry intestinal parasites - sometimes without becoming ill themselves. They pass the eggs of the parasites in their stool. Maybe you are great at picking up your yard, but I can promise you're not perfect. The roundworms or hookworms in your pets' stool actually can infect your children too. And given my kids' tendency to get dirty and then not wash their hands, I'd say that they're at risk! Check out the CDC website for the gritty details -
http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/Merial_CDCBroch_rsgWEB.pdf
The great news is that heartworm preventatives will prevent ongoing intestinal parasites in your pet as well as preventing heartworm. If I prevent roundworms in Tugger, I help prevent roundworms in my kids. Easy decision there. The bad news is that those intestinal parasite eggs are VERY sturdy. These freezing cold Michigan winters don't bother them at all! So if I want to prevent intestinal parasites in Tugger, I have to give hearworm preventative once monthly year round.
Live in Southwest Michigan? Welcome to heartworm country!
Clinics in Michigan diagnose heartworm disease on average between 6 and 25 times per year. That's per clinic. In the little southwest corner of Michigan, that number can sometimes be as high as 50 times per year. Heartworm has historically been a huge issue along the Mississippi and along the Atlantic coast. Since Katrina in 2005, it seems to be more endemic throughout the US as a whole. Some have hypothesized that this is due to a shift in the mosquito population, others a shift in the weather, still others site that 50% of the dogs rescued after Katrina were heartworm positive. Those dogs were adopted out all over the US - something we as a country should be proud of but perhaps an action with unforseen consequences! Whatever the reason, exposure certainly seems higher now than 15 years ago.
At Shaver Road Animal Hospital, we really do practice what we preach. Ask any veterinarian or any staff member. We all give our dogs heartworm preventative once a month every month. We think that you should too!
To help encourage you, we are offering a buy 10 get 2 free option on ALL heartworm preventatives in 2014. If you're used to giving your preventative for 9 months each year (our old recommendation) we're asking you to buy JUST ONE MORE PILL! Then we'll do the rest.