Last night we were blessed to have Dr. James Crisman, of Pfizer Animal Health, come to our South Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association (SMVMA) to speak on the topic of heartworms. Now, you might well think that there is nothing new to know about a parasite that has been recognized for well over one hundred years. Not [...]
Jennifer writes: My cat had blood work done at her last visit and I was told yesterday that she tested positive for heartworm. She did not test positive in November, 2009, when given the same test so she had to have been bitten within the last year. The veterinarian told me there was nothing I [...]
Microfilaria are the offspring of adult heartworms. They are produced in massive numbers in canines infected with Dirofilaria immitis (the taxonomic name for the heartworm parasite). In some ways microfilaria can be worse than the adult canine heartworm. When large numbers of them die suddenly they can cause a shock reaction and death. That is [...]
Editor’s Note: As of December, 2011, Immiticide was again available through Merial’s European source. If you ever needed another reason to keep your dog on heartworm preventive, here it is. The only federally-approved heartworm treatment medication marketed in the United States is in very short supply. The name of the medication is Immiticide and it [...]
Spunky the cat came in today with the owner’s son and a history of coughing twice each day for about two weeks. He was otherwise acting and feeling fine and eating well, he just had this nagging, gagging cough. He even came in with a differential diagnosis list: “He’s coughing like he has a hairball. [...]
A diagnosis of heartworms is not a death sentence, even in a somewhat older dog. Precious “Sweetie” came to see us this week, her first doctor’s visit in her 8-year lifespan. Not surprisingly, having never been on a heartworm preventive and living in a swamp-surrounded, mosquito-laden area of a southern state, her test came back [...]
Recently MyPetsDoctor.com posted an article about why one’s dog needs to be tested for heartworms after missing one or more doses of heartworm preventive. We explained there that restarting heartworm preventive without a test is a dangerous proposition, and could even result in a reaction that could kill your dog. Well, just this morning, it [...]
“Good morning, Kristi and Stephanie, I need a refill of Revolution heartworm preventive for Bowsie, please.” “We can take care of that for you, Mrs. Stephens. Has Bowsie missed any doses of her monthly Revolution?” “Yes, we just moved into our new house and I lost track of time during the transition. She missed last [...]
Heartworm disease in cats is deadly but preventible. For cats there is no heartworm treatment to rid the infected feline of the parasite, as there is in dogs. Feline heartworm prevention is easy and affordable. Just as with dogs, cats get heartworms from mosquitoes, which act as an intermediate host of the parasite. Many people [...]
Heartworm University (HU) is a function of the American Heartworm Society, based in Wilmington, Delaware. It is a new feature of the Society and its program was presented six times in calendar 2009. As a member and director of the Louisiana Academy of Veterinary Practice I was fortunate to be able to attend HU this [...]
Sometimes pet owners administer their pets’ heartworm preventive right on schedule, but they get heartworms anyway. There are no perfect medications. One of my staff members came to me with a surprise a few months ago, “Dr. Randolph, I have something to tell you.” Her lower lip began to tremble. “I’m pregnant.” She took her [...]
Revolution is a monthly heartworm preventive for cats and dogs that also both controls and prevents fleas. MyPetsDoctor.com’s Dr. James W. Randolph recommends this Pfizer Animal Health medication for many of his canine and feline patients in his own private practice in Long Beach, MS. Heartworm disease is a life-threatening parasitic infestation for both species. [...]
Recent Comments