The American Heartworm Society has just released its 2016 Heartworm Incidence Survey results, calling it The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The triennial survey gathers information from over 4200 veterinarians across the country, from clinics and shelters. The Good•…
At the Central Veterinary Conference in Washington, D.C., in May, 2013, Kristin MacDonald, D.V.M., PhD, DACVIM (cardiology), co-author of Feline Cardiology (Wiley-Blackwell), addressed 11 fallacies practitioners encounter in an effort to ensure more cats are protected with heartworm preventives year-round. DVMNewsmagazine has…
A bold divide exists among veterinarians on the topic of how to rid dogs’ bodies of heartworms. Few lack passion for this subject. “Slow kill” or “fast kill?” Traditional “fast kill” heartworm treatment which, by the way, is not particularly…
Activity restriction is important for dogs undergoing heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) treatment. However, it is not usually needed for the entire process, just during the time after Immiticide (and, the newer medication, Diroban) injections are administered. Patients undergoing “slow kill” heartworm treatment…
“My previous veterinarian didn’t act like heartworms were any big deal, that’s why Sharkie wasn’t on a heartworm preventive. Now, thanks to you, I know better!” Sadly, we veterinarians must not be doing the quality and quantity of client education…
Mrs. Jones, in the clinic for her cat Wilson’s semiannual examination, asked, “Dr. Randolph, when our dog Phred missed a dose of heartworm preventive last year, he had to have a heartworm test before he could take his preventive again.…
Repeatedly we have made the point that heartworm preventives are monthly medications. They are not every 33 days medications. They are not every 34 days medications. They are not every six weeks medications! Periodically, then, they question comes up, “Should…
There is no more important role of your veterinarian than that of educator. Yes, we can fix things, and yes, when there is an emergency we have to remember our ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Cardiopulmonary. After the dust settles and…
Reader “SJaffe” writes to us, “Hi, Dr. Randolph, I foster a Cocker spaniel who is 12 years old. She is heartworm-positive and it’s just breaking my heart. I would love to do everything I possibly can do help her get…
How does such a thing happen? This little dog came to me Monday, having never seen a veterinarian in her life. And she’s 10 years old. And her fecal flotation is negative for intestinal parasites. And her heartworm test is…
