Dear Buddy,I got a post card from my vet reminding me to bring my dog in for heartworm medication. But it’s so expensive. Do I really need to?

Sam

Dear Sam,

Dog owners often don’t realize that heartworm is something that could definitely affect their pet. Some think that the cost of the preventative medicine is too high. But, you just can’t afford to wait until this devastating and frequently fatal illness strikes your best friend before taking action.

Heartworm is a common disease, and treatment for a dog infected with heartworm is costly and dangerous. Without prevention, many dogs are exposed to this disease that, in its early stages, has no symptoms.

Heartworm is transmitted to animals through a bite from a mosquito containing the infected larval form of the heartworm. When an animal is infected, the heartworm larva can grow and develop into worms. These worms live inside blood vessels within and
surrounding the heart and lungs. The adult worms mate inside the blood vessels, and their offspring-which are called microfilaria-circulate in the bloodstream. These microfilaria can be picked up by another biting mosquito, and then passed to another animal.

The disease can be easily prevented, but it does require a visit to a veterinarian. Dogs must be tested to ensure they don’t have heartworm before putting them on preventative medication. By federal law, heartworm preventative medicine is only available through a prescription. Dog owners should consult with a vet to discuss their pet’s individual needs.

Another consideration is geographic location. In some parts of the country heartworm is much more common in certain areas than in others. Although heartworm infection has been found in dogs in all 50 states, it is much more prevalent around the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. The temperature and humidity in these regions support mosquito populations, and mosquitos transmit this disease.

Have you ever seen a mosquito in Oswego County? With all of our wetlands, as important and beautiful as they are, heartworm in untreated dogs is very prevalent right here.

Once infected, dogs with heartworm can be treated if the disease is caught in time, but there are several drawbacks. The treatment, although effective, is painful, expensive, and can have side effects. But, if the disease goes untreated, the results can be fatal. In dogs, the adult worms live in the cardiovascular system and cause a great deal of physical damage. Severely affected dogs develop heart failure because the physical presence of a
large number of these worms can actually obstruct blood flow through the heart. Untreated heartworm disease causes serious cardiovascular complications that can be fatal.

So my advice is to make heartworm prevention a priority by scheduling an appointment with your vet right away! HEARTWORM SEASON IS ALMOST HERE SO DON’T DELAY!

The Oswego County Humane Society provides information and referral to all pet owners in Oswego County, humane education programs and publications, low cost spay/neuter services for cats in low income households, and fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need. We are located at 265 West First Street, Oswego, New York 13126. Phone: (315) 207-1070. Email: ochscontact@hotmail.com, and you can see our pets for adoption at www.oswegohumane.org.

Oswego Harborfest has announced that the popular 50-50 Raffle to benefit Harborfest will return in 2009.

Farnham Family Services, an Oswego-based substance abuse treatment and prevention center, is now selling tickets for its 2009 Changing Lives Raffle.

As this column goes to press the 152nd Oswego County Fair should be in full swing at Sandy Creek. During the previous week the Heritage building was stocked full with many new and unique exhibits. We even brought down a piano for some live music!