Heartworm test / Proheart promotion extended until end of April 2011

HEARTWORM PREVENTION

Heartworm infection is most common in the eastern states, thanks to the hotter and more humid climate. However with interstate relocations, holidays away with your dog, and the gradual change in climate mosquitoes carrying the heartworm larvae (dirofilaria immitis) are gradually spreading further southwards and westwards.

Although at the minute cases of active canine Heartworm infection in Adelaide occur in less than 3% of the population, we are expecting this number to start to rise over the next few years. Heartworm infections are spread from dog to dog by mosquitoes of many different species, a lot of which are found in our local area. It just takes one dog carrying the heartworm larvae to be bitten by a suitable host mosquito to start off a wave of infection across Adelaide. One mosquito can bite several dogs a week and spread the micro larvae in its saliva to each dog, which if not on Heartworm prevention can become fatally infected, and also act as a reservoir of infection for the next mosquito to become infected with. It's a bit like chicken pox, only you don't need two dogs to be in contact with each other to spread the infection.

Symptoms of heartworm infection include heart disease signs, such as panting, exercise intolerance, a dry chronic cough, weakness and lethargy, even fainting. Some dogs may show signs of worms in the blood vessels of their liver and kidneys as well, causing weight loss and anaemia.

A simple blood test on just a few drops of your dog's blood can give you peace of mind that they have not already been infected with heartworm larvae by a mosquito, as clinical signs of illness can take years to show. If negative, your dog can then start on heartworm prevention treatment straight away.

At the hub vet clinic we have several heartworm preventative treatment options; monthly tablets such as Sentinel, Heartgard; monthly spot ons, such as Advocate; or, the most convenient for most people, an annual injection of Proheart. Monthly treatments do also provide cover for gut roundworms, but with proheart we would recommend using an oral allwormer every 3mths.

Until the end of April we are offering a complimentary heartworm test on your dog, valued at $50, if it then goes on to start the Proheart injection treatment. Please phone 8270 5155 and make an appointment with the vet for a check up and blood test for your dog  if it is not already on regular heartworm prevention or has not had any treatment for the last 3 months or more, and we can give you a year's worth of protection in one shot.