HEARTWORM

Heartworm is a parasitic disease found in a variety of animals which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The life cycle of Heartworm begins when a mosquito bites an infected animal. The mosquito then bites a healthy animal and injects the undeveloped larvae into the pet. The larvae grow and migrate to the heart through the animal’s blood stream, where they continue to develop into adult worms. This causes damage to the lungs and the heart and if left untreated, a heartworm infection can result in death.

Heartworm prevention products include Interceptor, Sentinel and Revolution. They are prescription medications that can be dispensed to our patients.

© If your pet stays local (in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland) year-round and you would like them to go on preventive medication, it is safe to place your pet on Interceptor, Sentinel or Revolution. Blood testing for the heartworm antigen is recommended prior to treatment. Our doctors are able to prescribe these medications for your pet, as long as they have been examined in the past year.

© If your pet is going with you on vacation to a heartworm endemic area, it is safe to place them on preventive medication at the beginning of the vacation and continue for at least one month after returning.

Testing every 3 years is recommended.

© If your pet has already visited a heartworm endemic area within the current mosquito season, but has not taken preventive medications, it is safe to place them on preventive medication for the rest of the season. No test is valid for this time period.

© If your pet has visited a heartworm endemic area in the previous mosquito season, but has not taken any preventive medications, testing is highly recommended. Blood is taken and sent to the lab for testing and no examination is required if your pet has been examined by our veterinarian in the past year.

If you do not wish to have your dog tested, it is recommended that they be placed on preventive medication during the mosquito season (May – October) each year to prevent the spread of infestation.

Interceptor, Sentinel and Revolution prevent the progression of the disease in a pet infected with heartworm, and pose no harm to your pet in the process. Interceptor and Sentinel are available in chewable tablet form, which is given once a month. Revolution is available in a topical liquid form which is applied to the skin once a month as well.

Since heartworm is not endemic in this area, local dogs that have not left this area need not be tested. The risk of acquiring heartworm in our local area is less than 1 %.

Heartworm endemic areas include:                                                                                                                                

• Okanagan Valley              • Ontario                       • all of the lower 48 US States                • Far East (Taiwan,

• Southern BC                     • Manitoba                    • Southern Quebec                                  Philippines, Hong Kong)

Any dog may be tested as a precaution at your request, however, your dog must be old enough to have lived through a mosquito season and the test must be performed a minimum of six months after that mosquito season has ended. Currently there are no valid tests available for cats.