bbbbTurning on the Worms
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Please don't look at the word "worms," think "yuck" and skip to the next article!

Unfortunately, the U.S. is experiencing a major growth in the number of cases of canine heart worm.

Last year, Veterinarians diagnosed nearly 250,000 dogs and cats with this infection.

At the same time, the number of dog-owning households who use heart worm preventives declined from 66% in 1998 to 55% last year.

Some owners mistakenly think that a housebound dog can't get infected. Or, they think this infection is only applicable in Southern states or during the summer.

This disease is prevalent in stray dogs. Human clothing including shoes can carry the infection into your home. Can you really keep all mosquitoes out of your home?

Although heart womrn is a treatable infection, it can cause serious problems including heart attack and liver failure if unrecognized and untreated for a period of time. It can even prove fatal.

Heart worm infections occur when a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito and ingests heart worm larvae.

Spaghetti-like strands of worms mass and may obstruct the heart and cause heart failure. Or, they may fill the pulmonary arteries and cause blood clots in the lungs.

Symptoms may be as mild as a soft cough and an unwillingness to exercise.

Veterinarians can easily diagnose the problem with blood tests, but owners may not realize treatment is needed until more severe symptoms appear.

The best thing to do is to use a preventive on a regular basis.

I give my dog a tablet once a month, year-round that prevents heart worm, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.

As my dog will not swallow a tablet, I crush them between two spoons and put them in peanut butter which is his dog's favorite snack. He never fails to swallow it all!

The product I use is Interceptor but there are others that
you, or your dog, might prefer such as Heartgard Plus. Talk to your Vet about your dog's needs.

Two products that also offer protection against fleas are Revolution, which is a liquid application given once a month, and Sentinel, which is a tablet given once a month.

Not every product, however, protects against all the different types of worms and not all new products prove out over time.

ProHeart6 which was an injection supposed to be effective for six-months has been taken off the market as has Filarabits, an oral medicine.

In addition to preventives, be sure to clean up your dog's feces. Worms are not only a problem for other dogs and cats but also some worms can invade human systems as well.

WARNING: Do not start giving preventive medicines without a Vet's OK. Every dog needs an exam prior to starting heart worm medication as administering these drugs to an infected-dog can prove deadly.

DOUBLE WARNING: Always be present for a period of time when your dog first gets any medication. Any one drug can cause an allergic reaction in any one dog. You need to watch your dog for a day to ensure he doesn't suffer some complication. If his behavior changes after he receives the medication or he seems to be experiencing distress moving, breathing, drinking or eating contact a Vet immediately.