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Here Is Why Heartworm Medicine Is Important

Heartworm disease can be a serious threat to our beloved pets, but with proper preventative measures, we can keep our animals safe and healthy.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jean Rutkowski has been a veterinarian technician for over 40 years. She works at Pawmetto Lifeline, an animal rescue organization. Heartworm prevention is extremely important, according to her.

"Heartworms are actually parasites, a long worm that attaches itself to the heart. The more heartworms there are, the more blockage there is to the heart," says Rutkowski.

These worms can grow and multiply within the heart and lungs of our pets, leading to severe health issues and, in some cases, even death. The good news is that heartworm disease is entirely preventable through regular use of heartworm medicine. 

"Heartworm is treatable," Rutkowski says. "It is very simple. There are a couple of ways you can do it: there is oral, some are chewies. There is also topical that you can put on the back of the animal's neck and absorbed through the bloodstream."

Using heartworm medicine kills the immature worms that are transmitted by mosquitoes. Even if mosquitoes are less prevalent in your area, it's important to stay proactive and administer the medicine regularly.

"The mosquitoes are consistently feeding off of cats and dogs. It doesn't matter how long their hair is or anything like that; the mosquitoes are going to get in there. For just 20 bucks a month, you can keep your dog safe from heartworms," says Rutkowski.

Heartworm prevention is a simple yet vital step in responsible pet ownership. 

New Study Reveals Alarming Gap In Dogs, Heartworm Prevention

A new paper published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science revealed a concerning finding: Less than 40% of dogs in the longitudinal Golden Retriever Lifetime Study were on preventive heartworm medications at baseline. This is a troubling discovery, as heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that is preventable in dogs.

This study, conducted by researchers at Lincoln Memorial University, investigated what factors predict heartworm preventive medication use in the golden retrievers in the Study cohort. The team unearthed critical factors associated with a reduced likelihood of dogs being on heartworm prevention, including dogs in the highest quartile of height, sexually intact dogs and dogs receiving supplements.

Conversely, dogs receiving other vaccines or diagnosed with an infectious disease or an ear, nose, or throat health condition during their health checkups in the last year were likelier to receive heartworm preventives.

Dr. Lauren Wisnieski, Associate Professor of Public Health and Research at Lincoln Memorial University and the study's principal investigator, emphasized the scarcity of studies examining the prevalence of prophylactic use in dogs. She said this recent project is especially crucial as climate change has extended mosquito season in certain states, making year-round vigilance imperative.

Heartworm larvae are deposited onto a dog's or cat's skin during a mosquito bite, where they undergo maturation, sometimes for several months. Despite advances in understanding heartworm disease, including improved diagnostic tests and safer, more effective treatments, heartworm disease remains a significant health threat for pets in all 50 states.

Heartworms can grow to a foot long and cause lasting damage to the heart, lungs and other organs. While treatment is possible, it can be financially costly for the owners and often means a long recovery, if successful, for the pet.

"This data can help inform how veterinarians talk to clients," Wisnieski said. "It can also help identify populations that have risks of nonadherence. Prevention is a cheaper alternative to the financial burden of treating heartworm disease later."

Wisnieski said now that she and her team have preliminary data, they will work on broadening their research scope. This expansion will encompass diverse dog breeds, those given supplements, the impact of cost on preventive use and the effect of the human-animal bond.

More information: Lauren Wisnieski et al, Factors associated with heartworm preventative use in the golden retriever lifetime study, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1208804

Provided by Morris Animal Foundation

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18 Human Foods Dogs Can't Eat, According To Vets

Viktoriya Fivko/Getty Images Macadamia nuts

Nuts are generally not a good snack for dogs due to their high fat content; plus, packaged nuts are often loaded with salt. But macadamia nuts are particularly problematic because they can cause weakness, vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. While these symptoms will usually resolve on their own, Dr. Garner says it's still a good idea to call your veterinarian if your dog gets ahold of these nuts.

Mushrooms

If you and your dog take a walk through the woods, or anywhere wild mushrooms might pop up, make sure he doesn't chomp on one while he has his nose to the ground. "Store-bought shouldn't be hazardous," says Dr. Garner, "but it's best to avoid mushrooms altogether when it comes to a dog's diet." Here are more shockingly common dog dangers in your own backyard.

Javier Zayas Photography/Getty Images Onions

Foods from the onion family—including onions, garlic, leeks and chives—should be avoided because they contain a toxin called N-propyl disulfide. "This can cause serious damage to canine red blood cells, meaning that the dog's body will struggle to distribute oxygen properly," says Dr. Garner. "It is never safe to give a dog onion or any other foods from the onion family."

Dr. Richter concurs. "Onion toxicity is rare because most dogs wouldn't eat enough onions to be a problem," he says. "But theoretically, if someone had a large plate of cooked onions that got eaten by the dog, it could be a problem." You should be on particularly high alert during holidays. For example, think of all the Thanksgiving foods that incorporate cooked onions and could pose a danger to your pet.

And Lisa Weeth, DVM, head of the nutrition department at Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital, adds a special note of caution: "A 50-pound dog sneaking a few licks of a sauce that includes garlic and onion is unlikely to cause any issues, but adding garlic to their diet as an additive or in a supplement over days to weeks can cause nausea or vomiting and result in anemia. If the anemia becomes severe enough and chronic enough, it can cause lethargy, weakness, pale gums and collapse. There are many in the blogosphere who still tout unproven health 'benefits' for garlic while ignoring the very real negative health risks of this food. I would not recommend intentionally feeding anything in the garlic or onion family to dogs."

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