CARING FOR YOUR PET
Preventing the ills of heartworm By Dr. Jim Sparks
A
h, warm weather is upon us and beneficial rain is falling. The green and color are back in all their glory. Some of the things that come with all this beauty are not so glorious, like the buzz of mosquitoes. These pests may annoy us, but they can carry deadly heartworms to our pets. Heartworms are actual worms (8 to 14 inches long) that live in the heart and major arteries of the lungs. If not detected or treated early, they will cause congestive heart failure and eventually fatal results. The good news is that heartworm disease is easy to prevent and easy to test for. Oncea-month medication comes in either a pill or a chewable treat and prevents this deadly parasite. Most preventatives contain an added medication to eliminate intestinal worms. Some of the intestinal worms are zoonotic,
meaning they can also infect people. Heartworm is much more prevalent in dogs, but even indoor-only cats can contract them. People can even track intestinal parasites into the house that can infect their cats. Dogs over 6 months old need to be tested for heartworms prior to starting heartworm preventative, then should be tested annually. Let’s face it, in our busy lives some doses may be missed (I am guilty), making it more important to test annually. Administering preventative to a dog with heartworms can cause a serious/dangerous reaction. Preventatives are a prescription medication, so your veterinarian is liable if prescribing without proof that it is safe to administer. Heartworms are endemic in our area. If a dog contracts heartworms, it is both dangerous and expensive to treat. The bottom line: By using an easy once-a-month preventa-
tive, we protect our pets from suffering from heart disease and our bank accounts from the ills of vet bills. James (Jim) Sparks DVM is a lifelong Northlander working at Eagle Animal Hospital, Inc. Dr. Sparks has been in the animal health care field since the age of 15; he worked as part of the support staff at Eagle Animal Hospital through high school and during college breaks. Other than an externship in Alaska, Dr. Sparks has always practiced at Eagle. In 1995, he became the third owner of the now 67-year-old practice. Dr. Sparks and Eagle Animal Hospital have received multiple awards including multiple “Best in the Northland” and the “Pro Patria Award,” which is the highest honor given to civilian employers by the United States Department of Defense. Eagle Animal Hospital was also recently recognized as one of the “KC Smart Companies to Watch.”
EAGLE ANIMAL HOSPITAL
816-741-2345 • eagleanimalhospital.com
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