All pet owners should be extra cautious!

Some concerning news has come to our attention regarding heartworm. If you are not too sure what heartworm is… it is a nasty parasite that causes a deadly disease that’s known to affect dogs here in South Australia.

Several cases have been reported within a 10km radius of our clinic.

The latest figures from the Heartworm Surveillance Project show an increasing number of dogs have been reported to have this distressing and deadly infection over the last 18 months.

40% of the infected dogs were on a monthly heartworm tablet or spot-on treatment.

Why monthly prevention is leaving dogs at risk of the disease isn’t entirely clear.

What’s the solution? Well, the Australian Heartworm Prevention Guidelines state that “year-round heartworm protection is recommended for all domestic canines throughout Australia.”¹

Given that it is almost impossible to remember to give treatment on the same day every month, we can discuss a free heartworm antigen test and a simple year-round heartworm prevention injection.

Why not make an appointment today to secure guaranteed year-round heartworm prevention for your dog?

We won’t leave your dog at risk of heartworm… Not on our watch!

1. Australian Heartworm Advisory Panel (AHAP). Australian Guidelines for Heartworm Prevention in Dogs. March 2014.

HOW DO DOGS GET HEARTWORM?

• Mosquitoes transmit the disease to dogs by injecting tiny heartworm larvae into their skin
• Larvae develop in the tissues and migrate to the heart where they grow into adult worms
• The adults live in the heart and the large blood vessels surrounding the heart
• They reproduce and release more larval offspring into the dog’s bloodstream
• Larvae are transmitted to another pet via mosquitoes

WHAT ARE SIGNS MY DOG MAY HAVE HEARTWORM?

• Lethargy
• Tiring easily with exercise
• Coughing
• Loss of appetite
• Enlarged abdomen

HOW DO VETS CHECK FOR HEARTWORM?

• A blood test
• Chest radiographs
• Ultrasound

WHEN SHOULD I START MY PUPPY ON A HEARTWORM PREVENTION PROGRAM?

Protect your puppy against heartworm by starting them on heartworm prevention from 12 weeks of age. Ask the vet about heartworm prevention:

• Get protection all year long
• Don’t miss a dose

For more information, visit: pawclub.com.au