Heart worm disease is being reported with increased frequency in San Diego County due to the increased number of mosquitoes resulting from the wet weather. Mosquitoes transmit the heart worm larvae, which grow into adult spaghetti-like strands of worms in the heart and surrounding blood vessels; left untreated, this disease causes heart failure and death. The treatment for heart disease is costly and bears some risk-when the adult worms are killed with treatment, the pet may suffer a major stroke, embolism, or other severe side effect which may also be fatal. The best measure to take is PREVENTION, which consists of giving a monthly tablet orally to prevent any larva from developing into adult worms. Prior to starting heart worm preventative, a simple blood test is run to confirm heart worm infestation is not already present.

Heart worm preventatives available include Interceptor, Heartgard Plus, and Sentinel. These all prevent intestinal parasites-roundworms, hookworms, and whip worms as well. Intestinal worms, if untreated, cause symptoms ranging from weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting and poor coat quality to anemia, severe weakness, and even death. It is recommended that you have a stool sample from your pet checked by your veterinarian at least annually, and when your pet has symptoms of intestinal disease. The feces is examined microscopically for the presence of intestinal parasite eggs. Sentinel, in addition, contains the active ingredient of Program, the monthly tablet given for "flea birth control", thus reducing the flea population and associated problems: skin irritation, secondary bacterial infection, allergies, blood loss and anemia, and infestation with tapeworms. Tapeworms, rice-like segments pet owners observe around their pet's bottom and in the stool, result when the pet ingests fleas carrying the tapeworm larva. Thus animals do not contract tapeworms from each other directly; the flea is necessary to complete the life cycle. Your veterinarian has medications to treat tapeworm infestation and in addition will recommend improved flea control. Flea control measures include: bathing, dipping, collars, Program or Sentinel ("flea birth control"-acts by sterilizing fleas), Advantage topical (kills fleas up to thirty days with monthly application), Frontline topical (kills fleas and ticks), Revolution topical (heart worm preventative and kills fleas and ticks as well), and-very important-treating the environment with carpet powders, foggers, or sprays.

Our current recommendations include having your pet on heart worm prevention year round with annual testing, flea birth control year round, and, if needed, topical flea adulticide such as Advantage during flea season (in San Diego, March through October). Have a stool sample checked once a year, or more often if needed, for intestinal worms. Heart worm disease is not as commonly diagnosed in cats as in dogs, but we have tests and preventatives available for cats as well. Call Morena Pet Hospital at 619-275-0888.