Just in time for the launch of the new Muppets movie!  What does Miss Piggy have to do with heartworm??  You'd be surprised!

In 2011 Byron Blagburn, PhD, of Auburn University, published results from his study investigating the effectiveness of many of the different heartwom preventatives.  One dog in the study, a beagle named Miss Piggy, carried a strain or variety of heartworm that seemed to be particularly difficult to kill.  Prior to 2011, all of the available heartworm preventatives (Heartgard, Trifexis, Sentinel, etc.) were 100% effective.  They killed every single "baby" heartworm with just one dose.  Dr. Blagburn's study showed that Miss Piggy's "baby" heartworms only died after she was given two doses of preventative. 

So, in addition to a higher presence of heartworm in our canine population (see my blog about Heartworm Disease and Prevention), the little wormies seem to be harder to prevent.  Since 2011, researchers have been busy analyzing all of the different strains of heartworm.  The American Heartworm Society published information at the end of 2013 confirming that resistance to the current heartworm preventatives (meaning the pills that you give once each month) does in fact exist.  They have strongly recommended giving the heartworm preventatives year round to slow the development of resistance and to provide better protection for your pet.  One pill, once a month, 12 months per year.

We are not saying that our heartworm preventatives do not work.  You can be confident that they will all kill the baby heartworms.  We are saying that the BEST way to protect your beloved family pet is with year round heartworm preventative. 

Check out our Clinic Specials page to see how we can help you provide the best protection against heartworm disease for your pet.