At your next veterinary visit with your dog, you may be asked about running a blood test that screens for heartworm and tick diseases. Our clinic currently uses the 4DX test; this is a simple and easy blood test that screens for 4 different diseases in dogs: heartworm disease, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis.
Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes from infected dogs or coyotes to uninfected dogs. It is very common in the southern states as mosquitoes can survive all year. In the upper Midwest, we have a break from heartworm transmission during cooler weather. The temperature for mosquitoes to survive and be able to transmit heartworms must be at or above 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heartworm disease takes 6 months to develop from the mosquito bite to detection on a blood test (they are not detectable on a stool sample). Dogs do not show symptoms of heartworm disease until there is sufficient damage to the heart; cough, weight loss, lethargy, weakness, pale gums, and fainting are all symptoms of heartworm disease which are due to heart failure. If left untreated, dogs can die from heartworm disease. Kidney disease can also develop from a heartworm infection due to the immune system’s response. Yearly testing for heartworms is important because it’s much easier and safer to treat a dog that isn’t ‘sick’ yet.
Heartworm disease is easily prevented. There are several prescription heartworm prevention medications available (none are available over the counter). Our clinic currently recommends YEAR ROUND prevention of heartworms due to the unpredictable 60-degree days in January, plus it keeps us in the habit of giving it. You will see some links at the bottom of the page to popular products for heartworm prevention.
Lyme disease (Lyme Borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi), is the most well-known tick-borne disease in this region. Symptoms can include lethargy, fever, joint pain/lameness, and a decreased appetite or intestinal upset. Some dogs have more subtle symptoms-they just seem ‘off’ or act ‘old’. Early detection with Lyme testing and following up with treatment if positive can potentially prevent more severe problems. There are certain breeds, especially Labrador retrievers, that are at a higher risk of developing kidney failure directly linked to Lyme disease. Rarely, there can be cardiac and neurological symptoms from Lyme disease infection.
After having Lyme disease, dogs do NOT develop life-long immunity, meaning they can get reinfected. They can also have a ‘relapse’; Lyme is considered a chronic bacterial infection. If your pet’s immune system becomes stressed, they can relapse and will need another course of treatment.
When a pet tests positive, we often do a follow-up test to check the titer level. This aids us in determining if the positive Lyme test warrants treatment or if symptoms are due to something else.
Tick Control-Use an effective tick control all year! Ticks DO NOT go away in the winter in Wisconsin/upper Midwest. They can be especially hardy in heavily wooded areas where they survive in the plant material/leaves on the ground. It has to get well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit for several days in a row to kill ticks. You will see some links at the bottom of the page to popular products for tick and flea prevention.
Vaccination-This vaccine is most effective at preventing infection if it is started when your dog is young. It is safe to start as early as 8 weeks of age and can be given along with the puppy vaccine series. 2 vaccines are given, 3 to 4 weeks apart, and then it is given annually. Even if your dog is vaccinated for Lyme disease and you are using tick control, it is still important to test because no vaccine is 100% effective. The vaccine is found to prevent the more severe outcomes of Lyme infection. Vaccination PLUS an effective tick control dramatically reduce the chances of your dog contracting and developing Lyme disease.
Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis are quite similar to Lyme disease; they are each caused by a bacterium that is spread by ticks, and symptoms can be similar to Lyme disease. In addition, both Anaplasma and Ehrlichia can cause a severe reduction in blood platelets; platelets circulate in the blood and are partially responsible for preventing hemorrhage/bleeding in the body. Ehrlichiosis can also cause long-term illness by affecting the kidneys, spleen, and central nervous system. If either of these diseases are positive, treatment is the same as with Lyme disease. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines available at this time, so tick control is the most important way to prevent these.
TO SUMMARIZE
Yearly screening tests for Heartworm disease and tick-borne diseases
Year-round Heartworm prevention
Year-round tick (and FLEA) prevention
AND-if your dog is contracting Lyme and other tick diseases, you as a person are also at risk!
AND-Cats can get heartworms, too! (more on this later)
**Do not hesitate to call our office if you have any questions**
Here are some of our most commonly used heartworm and tick/flea prevention options that are available in the clinic and from our online pharmacy.
Simparica Trio (Flea/tick/heartworm/dewormer oral tablet-monthly)
https://southwestvetservices.securevetsource.com/itemView.pml?productId=137256&auto=true
NEXGARD Plus (Flea/tick/heartworm/dewormer oral chewable-monthly)
https://southwestvetservices.securevetsource.com/itemView.pml?productId=157996&auto=true
Heartgard (heartworm/dewormer oral chewable-monthly)
https://southwestvetservices.securevetsource.com/itemView.pml?productId=98313&auto=true
Nexgard (flea/tick oral chewable-monthly)
https://southwestvetservices.securevetsource.com/itemView.pml?productId=116127&auto=true
Vectra (flea/tick/mosquito topical-monthly)
https://southwestvetservices.securevetsource.com/itemView.pml?productId=117392
Selarid (flea/heartworm/dewormer topical-monthly)
https://southwestvetservices.securevetsource.com/itemView.pml?productId=161024&auto=true
Simparica (flea/tick oral tablet-monthly)
https://southwestvetservices.securevetsource.com/itemView.pml?productId=117538&auto=true
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