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It\u2019s easier to prevent heartworm disease than to treat the life-threatening heart and lung disease that can follow. To learn more about Heartworm disease, please talk to your family veterinarian, read our\u00a0Heartworm Disease blog<\/a>, or visit the\u00a0American Heartworm Society<\/a>.<\/p>\n How do we prevent Heartworm disease?<\/strong> How do you use heartworm prevention?\u00a0<\/strong> Some examples of active ingredients in heartworm preventatives include:<\/p>\n What if I can\u2019t remember to give a monthly medication?\u00a0<\/strong> How many months do I need to give my pet his\/her preventative medications?<\/strong> How do I know if I live in a high-risk or\u00a0<\/strong>low-risk<\/strong>\u00a0area?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0American Heartworm Society<\/a>\u00a0map below shows data acquired from 2013-2016 on specific numbers of heartworm positive cases by region. Visit their\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0for more maps and information.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Companion Animal Parasite Council<\/a>\u00a0map below shows data acquired from dogs tested in 2016 for Heartworm disease in the United States by two major laboratories. Visit their\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0to view Heartworm disease data from years past or even different parasites (i.e. tick-transmitted, intestinal parasites) of your interest.<\/p>\n Why do I need to give preventative medications year-round?\u00a0<\/strong> Also, heartworm preventatives often contain additional products that serve as intestinal parasite deworming. This is essential for households with children, elderly, and immunocompromised people since pets can transmit intestinal parasites to people.<\/p>\n Do I need a prescription for heartworm preventative?\u00a0<\/strong> Do I really need to test every year?<\/strong> There\u2019s an added benefit to annual testing \u2013 tick-transmitted disease screening for dogs. Many commercially available heartworm tests for dogs also include exposure to the most common type of tick-transmitted diseases (Lyme, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia).<\/p>\n If you have any questions about Heartworm disease or heartworm prevention, we encourage you to consult with your family veterinarian. We hope your pets have a healthy spring and summer!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Resources:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\nRegular preventative medication and Heartworm disease screening.<\/p>\n
\nThe majority of products are monthly pills or topical medications that kill the young stages (larvae) of adult heartworms. They work retroactively. For example, the dose that you give in April is aimed at killing larvae that have been transmitted in March. This is different from flea and tick preventatives that work proactively by preventing infestation of fleas and ticks for the month after you apply a topical preventative.<\/p>\n\n
\nIf a once-monthly medication is just too difficult to remember to give, there is another option. ProHeart6 \u00ae is an injectable, long-acting dose of moxidectin heartworm preventative for dogs. This injection is administered by a family veterinarian and designed to prevent heartworm infection for 6 months.<\/p>\n
\nThe\u00a0American Heartworm Society<\/a>\u00a0recommends:<\/p>\n\n
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\nWeather patterns are always changing, especially in Minnesota. Sometimes we have later winters or earlier summers. Giving heartworm preventatives only in the typical summer months would provide insufficient protection for your pet.<\/p>\n
\nYes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labeled all heartworm prevention medications to be used and\/or prescribed by a veterinarian.<\/p>\n
\nYes. Preventatives are excellent, but they\u2019re not always 100% effective at prevention. In addition, some parasites are developing resistance to anti-parasite drugs. There is ongoing research into this topic, but we know that inappropriate use of anti-parasitic drugs (just like the inappropriate use of antibiotics) can worsen resistance problems.\u00a0Experts recommend\u00a0<\/strong>year-round<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0use of heartworm preventatives, rather than partial year administration.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"heartworm](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Pet-Health-7.png\")
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