Each year, American pet owners spend hundreds of millions of dollars on medicines to prevent canine heartworm. Sadly, recent data indicates that the deadly disease continues to pose a major health threat to dogs.
Canine health experts are extremely alarmed by a recent industry survey that revealed a much greater incidence of heartworm than expected, despite important advancements in prevention and consumer education.
Earlier this year, the American Heartworm Society detailed the results of an industry survey that found that at least 250,000 dogs and cats tested positive for heartworm infection nationwide. The study was based on analysis of heartworm tests completed in 2001 by 18,000 veterinary clinics across the country.
"The battle against canine heartworm should have already been won," says Dr. Jim Humphries, a veterinarian and author of Dr. Jim's Animal Clinic for Dogs. "We know how heartworm is transmitted and we have the pharmaceutical products, including a 6-month injection, that prevent dogs from contracting this disease."
According to Dr. Humphries, the continued proliferation of canine heartworm disease in this country is so disheartening because the disease is nearly 100 percent preventable.
"The advancements that have made heartworm prevention so easy for veterinarians and dog owners should have made a huge impact in the reduction of heartworm incidents in this country," explains Dr. Humphries. "Not only are there monthly heartworm pills, but now we also have the ProHeart 6 injection that provides heartworm protection for six continuous months. Yet, this potentially fatal disease is still being contracted by thousands of animals on a routine basis."
Canine heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal parasitic condition, transmitted by mosquitoes, in which roundworms develop in the heart and major blood vessels of dogs. Dogs suffer severe heart and pulmonary damage from infestations, as well as kidney and liver dysfunction.
A recent Gallup survey revealed that only 55 percent of dogs in the United States are on any kind of heartworm preventative, down from 66 percent in 1998. While many veterinarians recommend using a monthly heartworm preventative, the survey found that dogs on average are given preventatives for only six months of the year, leaving them at risk for contracting heartworm infection throughout a significant portion of the year.
Another major reason for the heartworm problem is compliance. "Veterinarians from across the country report that dog owners have trouble remembering to give monthly heartworm preventatives as prescribed. Heartworm products can only be effective when they are administered on time. Missed doses seriously compromise the ability of the products to control heartworm," explains Dr. Humphries. "But with the recent ground-breaking advancement in prevention-the ProHeart 6 injection that provides six months of continuous heartworm protection-we now have a weapon to combat compliance problems. This time-release preventative virtually eliminates concerns about clients administering heartworm protective products as recommended."
To obtain additional information on ProHeart 6, including a copy of the product labeling, contact your veterinarian or call 1-800-772-5040.
Heartworm, a fatal condition, can be prevented.
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