By Jeff Kahler, D.V.M.
McClatchy Newspapers
We want the best for our pets.
We want them to have the best foods, good health care, a good environment, and so on. Sometimes, however, we may not know just what is best for them.
Parasite prevention in dogs is an example, and one where a veterinarian can help.
Heartworm disease involves a worm living in the heart and blood vessels near the heart.
Left untreated, it can be fatal. Dogs and cats can contract this disease and, fortunately, prevention is available for them.
Heartworm disease is spread via mosquitoes, and the need for prevention will depend on where you and your pet live. There are areas of the country where the mosquito population is minimal and heartworms have no way of spreading. Desert locations fit this description due to low amounts of rainfall and much less water wherein the mosquitoes lay their eggs.
Conversely, there are parts of the country such as the Eastern and Southern portions with much higher rainfall, where the mosquito populations are high and, correspondingly, incidence of heartworm is higher. Prevention in these locations is highly recommended. There are also areas with artificially created water environments, such as rice fields in Northern California, where mosquito populations are higher and heartworms flourish as a result.
There are other benefits of heartworm prevention, even for dogs in regions where the mosquito populations are fewer.
Heartworm prevention can prevent other parasitic diseases. If there is a risk of contraction of other types of internal parasites such as roundworms, whipworms or hookworms, prevention should be considered. These parasites live in a dog’s digestive tract and spread from dog to dog via ingestion of eggs from feces of an infected dog. They can be picked up anywhere an infected dog has left a “deposit.”
Some people are concerned about giving their pets regular doses of medication because of the potential for problems associated with such therapy. While any medication can cause side effects, the incidence with heartworm prevention is infinitesimal.
I am an advocate for disease prevention and, therefore, recommend heartworm prevention for all the reasons mentioned. Like any decision, there is consideration of risk vs. benefit.
I hope this information can help those on the fence make a more informed decision. For more locally specific information, have a talk with a veterinarian in your area. He or she will have local incidence rates for all types of parasites that might put your pet at risk.