heartworm and tick-borne disease testing
Dogs (and cats) of any age or breed are susceptible to heartworm infection. Heartworm disease is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected by a parasite (Dirofilaria immtis.) If untreated, heartworms can cause serious heart and lung disease that can lead to death. Improvements in client education have increased client awareness of heartworm and its risks, yet infection rates have remained steady. Clearly, more needs to be done to ensure client compliance for heartworm testing.
Ticks have been around since the time mammals appeared on the earth. However, in the past ten years, the tick population has exploded to significant levels. With this comes increased risk of contact with the literally thousands of tick species in existence today. Our exposure to ticks is greater than ever before not just because there are more of them, but also due to other environmental and cultural factors, including: a rise in the deer population (white-tailed deer in particular); warmer winters; decreased use of insecticides; increased travel throughout the country; and suburbanization, or the migration of people into areas previously inhabited by wildlife.
Most people know that ticks transmit Lyme disease, a chronic and debilitating illness, but they also carry bacteria that lead to other acute illnesses, such as anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis. Some ticks carry more than one of these diseases, which can lead to co-infection. These diseases vary in severity depending on patient age and overall health, and all are zoonotic, meaning they can infect humans and other non-canine family members.
The presence of one or more of these illnesses can be determined by a simple blood test, and we recommend all pets have this test performed on an annual basis. Any detected problems can receive immediate intervention.
Most people know that ticks transmit Lyme disease, a chronic and debilitating illness, but they also carry bacteria that lead to other acute illnesses, such as anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis. Some ticks carry more than one of these diseases, which can lead to co-infection. These diseases vary in severity depending on patient age and overall health, and all are zoonotic, meaning they can infect humans and other non-canine family members.
The presence of one or more of these illnesses can be determined by a simple blood test, and we recommend all pets have this test performed on an annual basis. Any detected problems can receive immediate intervention.
