American Heartworm Society Announces 2005 Guidelines
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BALTIMORE, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- During the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum in Baltimore on June 1, the AHS announced the "2005 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Dogs," and the "2005 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Prevention and Management of Heartworm Infection in Cats." The American Heartworm Society (AHS) has updated guidelines so veterinarians can readily educate pet owners about this potentially fatal illness. The new 2005 guidelines recommend annual testing, testing in between prevention product changes, and year-round prevention in order to manage heartworm disease.
"Each year, dogs and cats die needlessly from complications to this very preventable disease," says Charles Thomas Nelson, DVM and President of the American Heartworm Society.
In the past, if a dog had been on preventive methods routinely, it was not necessary to test every year, perhaps only every two to three years. But because of some concerns with breaks regarding animals on preventives that still contracted heartworms, the AHS recommends a more conservative testing routine. It may be too difficult to document when an animal hasn't been checked in three years, and therefore, annual testing will ensure that an infection is caught in plenty of time to effectively manage it.
Pet owners sometimes switch between prevention medications, for any number of reasons. In these instances, there are specific time periods to retest in order to ensure the pet is protected. When switching from one product to another, it is necessary to test more often.
Most veterinarians recommend year-round heartworm prevention, even in seasonal areas. One reason for this is compliance - making sure the medicine has been given properly by the pet owner. Surveys show that probably only 75 percent of the prescribed doses are given. But, even if doses are accidentally skipped, the drug is still beneficial to the pet. If given consistently over a 12-month period, it's possible to actually stop worms from developing into adults. Also, monthly heartworm preventives have activity against intestinal parasites, which inadvertently infect three to six million people every year. These preventives protect pets and people.
Educating the veterinary profession and the public is a goal of the American Heartworm Society. You can find the guidelines at http://www.heartwormsociety.org/ .
