Parasite Prevention in 2023: New Threats and Solutions for Your Pets
Spring is here and with it comes the return of many common, and formerly not-so-common, parasites. We have often shared with you information on the importance of year-round flea and tick prevention; tackling an infestation before it can occur. Now, recent studies have shown that it is just as important for our medical teams to include recommendations on heartworm testing and preventatives for pets in the Pacific Northwest.
What is heartworm?
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease found in both cats and dogs across the United States and in many parts of the world. The disease itself is caused by a parasitic roundworm (heartworms) that resides in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets. Once infested, these heartworms can cause severe lung disease, heart failure and organ damage; often resulting in the pet’s death. While preventable, we are now seeing more and more dogs and cats in this region infected by this deadly disease.
How is it transmitted?
Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes. In fact, a single bite from an infected mosquito can infect your pet. Of course, we often think of mosquitoes as only prevalent in warm weather months, but we now know that this is not the case. Mosquitoes can readily “overwinter” in warmer, indoor areas such as garages, greenhouses, etc. In addition, urban sprawl has led to the formation of “heat islands” with building and parking lots retaining a warmer environment resulting in what is now a year-round insect that can increase in numbers quickly.
What are the leading factors of the spread of Heartworm into the Northwest?
There are several key factors to consider when discussing the spread of Heartworm to this region:
Pet Relocation – The most prevalent being the relocation of potentially infected pets from warmer clients to the north.
Wildlife Carriers – The expansion of wild animal territories continue to impact the spread of Heartworm. Wild species such as foxes and coyotes have been recognized as important carriers for heartworms and they are often seen living in closer proximity to many urban areas.
Environmental Changes – It is also important to recognize the changing climate and warmer weather extremes leading to a year-round potential infestation.
What does this look like for our region?
How do we prevent Heartworm?
The early signs of Heartworm disease are often unnoticeable and, even with routine testing, can take up to nine months to detect in your pet. Left untreated, Heartworm can be deadly.
It is highly recommended that you test your pet once a year for Heartworm and include an all-inclusive, year-round parasite preventative into your pet’s medical plan.
There are so many different parasite preventatives, both over the counter and by prescription, that it can be overwhelming to choose. At Bothell Pet Hospital, our doctors make the decision on what we carry based on scientific data evaluating overall effectiveness and safety. We highly recommend Simparica Trio for dogs and Revolution Plus for cats as both are all-in-one products that are cost effective and easy to give. Of course, with any change to your pet’s health plan, we understand there will be questions. Be sure to ask your veterinarian today about which preventative is best for you and your pet.
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