Dr. Jean Dodds on Heartworms

[Squirt's Mom]

http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/118052606336/heartworm-dogs-danger#.VUe0UpOq9v5

[Harley PoMMom]

Leslie, thanks so much for sharing this, the article is very informative and I have learned more about Heartworm, so thank you. There was two paragraphs that really intrigued me:
I believe that the excellent public awareness campaign over the past 30 years about heartworm prevention and medication distribution have done great good, but have actually led pet caregivers to a false sense of security that their pets will not get heartworm and subsequently a backlash to prescription preventatives. Did not know this, I too figured if the dog was on the medication that the dog would not get heartworms.


This is not a statement that all heartworm preventatives work for all companion animals or that a level of caution should not be exercised particularly for pets with autoimmune diseases.


Great find Leslie.

[labblab]

Yep, I just came in from my backyard with five fresh mosquito bites, so I know the dreaded pests are back again in my part of the universe. GAWD but I hate them!!!!! :( :( :(

I agree, lots of good information here. I do believe Dr. Dodds is right that a lot of people have slacked off from giving preventatives at all, or for as long as they need to be giving them, because either they don't understand how dangerous heartworm can be or they think the risk of the preventative is worse. I've personally known two dogs that have died of incurable heartworm complications, and as a result, I am obsessive about dosing year-round here in Georgia.

Two comments, though. The first is that I'm surprised Dr. Dodds is still giving voice to even the possibility of spreading the dosing interval to 45 days. Most recently in a Dogaware article, but other places too, I've read that it really is not safe to ever exceed the 30-day interval anymore, given the development of these newer, more resistant parasites.

Secondly, I just want to remind folks here that Cushing's is not an autoimmune disorder. In fact, its effect on the body is exactly the opposite. With autoimmune disorders, the body's immune system is overactive and ends up attacking the body's own healthy cells and tissue. Uncontrolled Cushing's does the reverse: the elevated cortisol suppresses the immune system, leaving the body less able to fight off a range of infections or assaults. That's why many autoimmune diseases are treated with prednisone and other immunsuppressants, whereas with Cushing's you are trying to instead lower the steroid level and beef up the immune system. And that's why some dogs experience a worsening or even initial "unmasking" of autoimmune disorders when their Cushing's comes under control.

I mention this because, instead of avoiding disease preventatives in Cushpups, there may be reason why certain preventatives are actually even extra important for Cushpups -- because their own immune systems are not working properly in fending off infection and infestation. It's always important to discuss any specific preventative in detail with your vet. But don't automatically assume a Cushpup should not be a candidate for a drug or preventative when you see warnings against use in dogs with autoimmune disorders. Naturally-occuring Cushing's does not fall in that disease category.