URGENT HEARTWORM WARNING!

As we know, heartworm infection in dogs is an excruciating and fatal condition.  Some months ago, we learned that there was a potential shortage of immiticide, the only medication that exists for killing adult heartworms in infected dogs.  The shortage was due to the non-availability of one of the ingredients, and there is only one immiticide manufacturer.  Merry Anne Szidik investigated the problem and talked extensively with West Park.  They assured her at the time that they understood the shortage was coming, and had laid in an ample supply of immiticide so that they and their patients would not have any problems. Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the case, and West Park no longer has immiticide.

Merry Anne has researched the problem and has learned that there is another protocol for treating a heartworm positive (HW+) dog.  Unfortunately, the protocol is not a good alternative.  It involves treating an infected dog with heartworm preventative to kill the microfilariae, which is very risky for a HW+ dog and requires close medical supervision as well as anti-inflammatory injections or intravenous therapy before and after the administration of the preventative.  In order to kill the adult heartworms, the dog is put on a doxycycline regimen for 4 weeks, then off the doxy for 8 weeks, then back on for 4 weeks, off for 8 weeks, etc.  Throughout this treatment, which could last for many, many months, the dog's activity must be totally restricted, with no or extremely minimal exercise.  And through all of this, the dog is still susceptible to the ill effects of the heartworms that are present because adult heartworms are not killed by this process although their life span is shortened.

It is absolutely essential that all dogs be on a program of heartworm prevention, because now there is no truly effective method for treating a dog who contracts heartworm.  If for any reason your dog has not been maintained on monthly heartworm prevention, go to your vet immediately and have your dog tested, and institute a prevention program.  If you only use prevention 8 or 9 months of the year, move immediately to year-round protection. For further information, please see the American Heartworm Society’s Guidelines at www.heartwormsociety.org.