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There were 1,520 positive cases of heartworm out of 436,413 dogs tested in Ontario in 2021 - most of which were in the Southwestern corridor.
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These numbers do not include unreported positive cases or untested groups of wild canids. Since this particular study does not contain the data for all tests, it serves primarily as an indicator of the parasite activity in our area.(Parasite Prevalence Maps | Pets & Parasites: The Pet Owner's Parasite Resource (petsandparasites.org).
What is Heartworm?
Heartworm is a parasite that is spread by the bite of an infective mosquito. The mosquito will bite an infected animal (fox, wolf, coyote, other dog, cat etc) and pick up the larval stage of the parasite. The mosquito then will bite our pets and deposit the parasite into our pets' blood stream. The parasite will make its way to the heart and matures into a worm within the vessels and chambers of the right side of the heart. This ends in heart failure or sudden death if the worms break free and embolize to the lungs. There is treatment for heartworm if they do contract it, but there is approximately a 50% survival rate and the treatments are very expensive, very painful for your pet, and are done over a very long period of time. In addition, preventing heartworm is significantly less expensive than treating heartworm.
Some people choose not to use heartworm prevention because they have been told, or read, that the prevalence of heartworm in Ontario is very low. It is true that if you look at the statistics of heartworm testing in Ontario for pets, the prevalence is low, as it should be. Don't forget that the above statistic is taken from people's pets that they bring into the vet to be tested yearly, and usually also have their pets on heartworm prevention, so we expect the rates to be low and this is exactly what we want. What we do not consider with these statistics are the people who don't bring their pets in to be tested, animals that are not on prevention medication, the wildlife that are harboring the disease, as well as the dogs we import from foreign countries (particularly the Caribbean and the southern United State). These factors, along with climate change influencing the migratory patterns of mosquitos are all contributing to increases we are seeing in the number of heartworm cases. The untested populations in Ontario are of particular importance as we cannot accurately assess the rate of infection. These populations serve to act as reservoirs for transfer of infection. If we were able to do more testing, the statistical prevalence that is tabulated and presented every year would be much higher than it currently is.
How to prevent heartworm?
The current data suggests that the temperature must be at least an ambient 14 degrees Celsius for at least 4 consecutive days for heartworm to become a threat. This is a real problem for people and animals that live in warm climates, like Florida for example, where the temperature is often above this all year round. For those of us in Canada, the situation is different as we have our cold winters to stop the parasite from being an issue during the winter months. For this reason, we only need to protect our pets during the warmer months, providing that they don't travel anywhere warm during the winter months. Heartworm prevention is given once a month from June 1st to November 1st each year to keep them heartworm free.
What is Heartworm?
Heartworm is a parasite that is spread by the bite of an infective mosquito. The mosquito will bite an infected animal (fox, wolf, coyote, other dog, cat etc) and pick up the larval stage of the parasite. The mosquito then will bite our pets and deposit the parasite into our pets' blood stream. The parasite will make its way to the heart and matures into a worm within the vessels and chambers of the right side of the heart. This ends in heart failure or sudden death if the worms break free and embolize to the lungs. There is treatment for heartworm if they do contract it, but there is approximately a 50% survival rate and the treatments are very expensive, very painful for your pet, and are done over a very long period of time. In addition, preventing heartworm is significantly less expensive than treating heartworm.
Some people choose not to use heartworm prevention because they have been told, or read, that the prevalence of heartworm in Ontario is very low. It is true that if you look at the statistics of heartworm testing in Ontario for pets, the prevalence is low, as it should be. Don't forget that the above statistic is taken from people's pets that they bring into the vet to be tested yearly, and usually also have their pets on heartworm prevention, so we expect the rates to be low and this is exactly what we want. What we do not consider with these statistics are the people who don't bring their pets in to be tested, animals that are not on prevention medication, the wildlife that are harboring the disease, as well as the dogs we import from foreign countries (particularly the Caribbean and the southern United State). These factors, along with climate change influencing the migratory patterns of mosquitos are all contributing to increases we are seeing in the number of heartworm cases. The untested populations in Ontario are of particular importance as we cannot accurately assess the rate of infection. These populations serve to act as reservoirs for transfer of infection. If we were able to do more testing, the statistical prevalence that is tabulated and presented every year would be much higher than it currently is.
How to prevent heartworm?
The current data suggests that the temperature must be at least an ambient 14 degrees Celsius for at least 4 consecutive days for heartworm to become a threat. This is a real problem for people and animals that live in warm climates, like Florida for example, where the temperature is often above this all year round. For those of us in Canada, the situation is different as we have our cold winters to stop the parasite from being an issue during the winter months. For this reason, we only need to protect our pets during the warmer months, providing that they don't travel anywhere warm during the winter months. Heartworm prevention is given once a month from June 1st to November 1st each year to keep them heartworm free.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: BRAVECTO FOR DOGS AND CATS, MILBEMAX FOR CATS AND INTERCEPTOR FOR DOGS.
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There are many flea, tick and intestinal parasite products on the market. The products we recommend are prescription and available at Glendale. We use products for fleas/ticks heartworm and intestinal parasitism in tandem to provide the best overall protection for your pet. Some are applied to the skin, and some are given by mouth (orally). Some are given monthly (puppies until 6 months of age or until their weight stabilizes receive Credelio for tick and flea prevention), and some can last 8-12 weeks depending on the indication (ticks vs fleas for cats). Depending on your lifestyle, your pet's lifestyle, your needs and preferences, we will help you choose a product that works best for you and your pet. Examples of available products include the following:
Topical tick/flea combination products that we recommend (dogs and cats):
Bravecto which lasts 12 weeks in dogs for fleas and ticks; and in cats, 12 weeks for fleas and 8 weeks for ticks.
Oral tick/flea combination products that we recommend (dogs only):
Bravecto (12 weeks) and Credelio (monthly, which we use in puppies up until 6 months of age or until their weigh stabilizes). Bravecto is used for the prevention of Lyme and other tick borne disease as well as flea control.
Intestinal and Heartworm Parasite Prevention we recommend:
Milbemax for cats (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms) which we recommend quarterly for outdoor cats and twice yearly for indoor cats.
Interceptor Plus for dogs (heartworm prevention, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms including Echinococcus m.) which we recommend be given once monthly from June 1st until November 1st. This product works backwards in that it covers the month before as we typically see mosquitos starting in May, sometimes April. Please call us to have any questions answered about these and other products.
Topical tick/flea combination products that we recommend (dogs and cats):
Bravecto which lasts 12 weeks in dogs for fleas and ticks; and in cats, 12 weeks for fleas and 8 weeks for ticks.
Oral tick/flea combination products that we recommend (dogs only):
Bravecto (12 weeks) and Credelio (monthly, which we use in puppies up until 6 months of age or until their weigh stabilizes). Bravecto is used for the prevention of Lyme and other tick borne disease as well as flea control.
Intestinal and Heartworm Parasite Prevention we recommend:
Milbemax for cats (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms) which we recommend quarterly for outdoor cats and twice yearly for indoor cats.
Interceptor Plus for dogs (heartworm prevention, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms including Echinococcus m.) which we recommend be given once monthly from June 1st until November 1st. This product works backwards in that it covers the month before as we typically see mosquitos starting in May, sometimes April. Please call us to have any questions answered about these and other products.
Pets are great at hiding disease and often by the time they look sick it is more difficult to help them. Wellness testing also establishes a baseline for your pet that can be used to monitor their health as they age. Wellness blood tests are tailored to your pet's age and known health status.
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Wellness tests are blood tests performed to ensure the health of your pet. These blood tests allow us to anticipate any problems before your pet becomes clinically sick, in an attempt to modify the disease process and improve your pet's quality of life.
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The 4DX Heartworm + Tick Borne Disease Panel checks for Heartworm Disease, Lyme, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia Disease.
Wellness panels evaluate red and white blood cells, platelets, kidney, liver, pancreas and thyroid (if selected with T4 or FT4) function, proteins, minerals, and electrolytes.
Fecals (stool samples) check for the presence of intestinal parasites.
Starting in March, our external lab offers a FREE HEARTWORM AND TICK BORNE DISEASE TEST when done with a wellness blood panel. We are happy to extend this discount to your furry family so please take advantage of this offer which is available until July 31st 2022.
Wellness panels evaluate red and white blood cells, platelets, kidney, liver, pancreas and thyroid (if selected with T4 or FT4) function, proteins, minerals, and electrolytes.
Fecals (stool samples) check for the presence of intestinal parasites.
Starting in March, our external lab offers a FREE HEARTWORM AND TICK BORNE DISEASE TEST when done with a wellness blood panel. We are happy to extend this discount to your furry family so please take advantage of this offer which is available until July 31st 2022.
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NATIONAL BITE PREVENTION WEEK IS APRIL 10-16th 2022 |
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Dogs are sweet, loving, and therapeutic but at the end of the day, they are animals and they can bite. National Dog Bite Prevention Week, occurring every second week in April and backed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, aims to bring awareness to the fact that although dogs are part of our family and provide companionship and immense joy, they can bite as well. And when they bite, it's painful and dangerous. An estimated 4.5 million people across the U.S and Canada, mostly children, are bitten by dogs annually and more than 20% of those require immediate medical attention. From April 10-16th, let's work towards creating awareness that prevention is certainly better than the cure when it comes to life-threatening dog bites.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week emphasizes that although dogs are nice animals, all of them can bite when caught off guard. Getting bitten more than once on one occasion by a dog is called a dog attack. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't only watch out for being bitten by a rabid dog. No matter how cuddly or fuzzy you think your pet is, they could bite you if provoked. A dog's breed is not the determinant of whether or not it will attack when feeling threatened or unsafe, it's dependent on the dog's history and behavior.
Here are some great tips on how to protect yourself and your dog from a bite.
1. Socialize your dog
Dogs that are unfamiliar with their surroundings can often bite out of fear. By constantly changing where you walk your dog, they will become more comfortable with new places. Be sure to introduce your dog to neighbors and family members so strangers don't frighten them.
2. Train your dog
Familiarity with basic commands like "sit", "stay" and "come" help you remove your dog from a potentially contentious situation. When it comes to play, focus on non-aggressive activities such as fetch. Actions like wrestling and tug-of-war can encourage inappropriate behavior.
3. Prevent food aggression
Teach your dog to be comfortable with people handling their food. Your dog should feel comfortable with you removing their food bowl and putting it back while they are eating. If you have adopted an older dog, be patient and take small steps.
4. Learn body language
This is perhaps one of the most important and often over-looked ways to prevent dog bites. You are your dog's advocate, so know what they are saying by watching their body language, and teach your children to do the same. You can apply this same learning to dogs you don't know.
5. Respect your dog's space
Some dogs love to be hugged, but most dogs do not enjoy the feeling of being confined, so be cautious of this behavior and teach children never to hug a strange dog. When a dog is sleeping, don't interrupt them. Wake them up with verbal cues rather than touching them.
6. Keep your dog on a leash
If you allow your dog to run free, make sure they are in a safe and fenced enclosure. On walks, ask people to get your permission before petting your dog, and exercise the same respect to others.
Credits: https://nationaltoday.com/national-dog-bite-prevention-week.
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10 Completely Sane Ways To Celebrate Being a Crazy Cat Lady! |
1. Start the morning off on the right paw - do some yoga with your cat. Just don't call it Downward Facing Dog in their presence.
2. Get a huff of your cat's fluff. Because cats smell good. And cat huffing is definitely a thing.
3. Treat yourself to a cat-purr-cino - before your cat can steal a sip! Maybe she's born with it. Maybe it's caffeine. And, like, three cats.
4. Remember that some of the most fashionable women were cat ladies. "I've always been mad about cats." - Vivien Leigh, the famous English actress best known for starring in the 1939 adaptation of Gone with the Wind.
5. Choreograph a dance routine featuring you and your cat. We know you've got the moves. This is especially fun right meow with us being stuck at home thanks to the coronavirus!
6. Take a break and blow some bubbles with your cat. Because why not? Who doesn't love blowing bubbles?!
7. Celebrate with your fellow cat ladies! Put on your best feline fashion and get ready to paw-ty.
8. Post one of the million photos you have of your cat on Instagram (or Facebook or Twitter). The world needs to know who you are - and who your cats are!
9. If you're a cat person sans the cat, visit a cat cafe or your local shelter and pet some cats! You won't regret it - and the kitties in the shelter will love some good company. Note: while you might not be able to visit these kitties in person right now due to social distancing restrictions, they can still use your help. Consider reaching out to your local shelter or animal rescue to see how you can help.
10. Drink some wine with your cat! Because it's not drinking alone if it's with your cat!
Credits: 10 Completely Sane Ways To Celebrate Being a Crazy Cat Lady Meowingtons
2. Get a huff of your cat's fluff. Because cats smell good. And cat huffing is definitely a thing.
3. Treat yourself to a cat-purr-cino - before your cat can steal a sip! Maybe she's born with it. Maybe it's caffeine. And, like, three cats.
4. Remember that some of the most fashionable women were cat ladies. "I've always been mad about cats." - Vivien Leigh, the famous English actress best known for starring in the 1939 adaptation of Gone with the Wind.
5. Choreograph a dance routine featuring you and your cat. We know you've got the moves. This is especially fun right meow with us being stuck at home thanks to the coronavirus!
6. Take a break and blow some bubbles with your cat. Because why not? Who doesn't love blowing bubbles?!
7. Celebrate with your fellow cat ladies! Put on your best feline fashion and get ready to paw-ty.
8. Post one of the million photos you have of your cat on Instagram (or Facebook or Twitter). The world needs to know who you are - and who your cats are!
9. If you're a cat person sans the cat, visit a cat cafe or your local shelter and pet some cats! You won't regret it - and the kitties in the shelter will love some good company. Note: while you might not be able to visit these kitties in person right now due to social distancing restrictions, they can still use your help. Consider reaching out to your local shelter or animal rescue to see how you can help.
10. Drink some wine with your cat! Because it's not drinking alone if it's with your cat!
Credits: 10 Completely Sane Ways To Celebrate Being a Crazy Cat Lady Meowingtons