Preventable Diseases Heartworm Disease Information 1 Heartworm Disease

Preventable Diseases: Heartworm Disease Information 1

Heartworm Disease Information Heartworm Disease • Can infect both dogs and cats* • Spread by mosquito bite • Infects dog or cat with baby heartworms, or larvae, called Microfilaria • They develop over 6 months into mature adult heartworms • Worms can grow to be 12 inches, live in the heart, impeding the heart’s function • Dogs develop heart failure over several years and can die • Cats may drop dead, or suddenly go blind * Both indoor & outdoor cats at risk! In fact, indoor cats may be more susceptible. Outdoor cats are frequently exposed and may develop some immunity, while indoor cats do not get this constant exposure. So when a mosquito gets into a house and bites the cat, this cat is actually more likely to develop heartworms than that outdoor cat. Heartworm Disease Information 2

Heartworm Disease Information 3

Heartworm Disease Information (Top L to R): Heartworms in a dog’s heart cut open during an autopsy (Bottom L): Heartworms measuring 12 -13 inches long (Bottom R): Heartworms out of the heart Heartworm Disease Information 4

Heartworm Disease Information Source: American Heartworm Society Heartworm Disease Information 5

Heartworm Prevention Information Heartworm Prevention in dogs & cats consists of: • Heartworm Testing and/or • Prevention Product (Preventative) • Kills baby heartworms before they mature into adults • Treating adult heartworms in the heart & lungs of dogs is expensive ($1, 000 s+) • There is currently no treatment for heartworm-positive cats • Therefore, we want to prevent adult heartworms from ever developing! Heartworm Prevention Information 6

Heartworm Prevention Information Heartworm Testing • Puppies & kittens are not required to be tested if they are under 6 months • Dogs over 6 months of age must be tested for heartworms prior to starting preventative • Adult dogs should be tested annually, even if they have not missed a single dose of preventative • Any dog that misses several months of prevention product, should be tested before starting preventative again, then re-tested in 6 months • Cats do not require testing prior to starting prevention • However, there is a heartworm test for cats – part of the Triple Combo Test (also testing for FIV/Fe. LV) Heartworm Prevention Information 7

Heartworm Prevention Information Heartworm Preventative (Product) • Protection from heartworms can be provided with monthly prevention • In oral pill/chew form for dogs - Sentinel, Trifexis, Heart. Gard • In topical form for cats - Revolution for Cats • Puppies & kittens should start preventative before 6 months old (8 weeks) • Cats can begin prevention without testing • Even heartworm positive cats may be given preventative Heartworm Prevention Information 8

Heartworm Prevention Information Oral Prevention 101 • 2 major categories, divided by the chemical used to kill baby heartworms • Ivermectin versus Milbemycin • Ivermectin – in Heart. Gard, Milbemycin – in Sentinel & Trifexis • Both of these chemicals kill & prevent intestinal parasites, “worms” in the intestines of dogs & cats • Milbemycin kills more types of worms than Ivermectin • Recommendation: Sentinel & Trifexis (over Heart. Gard) Heartworm Prevention Information 9