Diary of a Real-Life Veterinarian: Dawg Business Mini Survey

Showing posts with label Dawg Business Mini Survey. Show all posts

Friday, January 3, 2014

If I Could Be Granted Just One Wish

My very dear friend, amazing blogger, tireless dog advocate and dog health guru compiled another vet survey. The topic this time...

Veterinarians Answer: If You Could Be Granted One Wish, What Would You Wish For?

New Year is time of resolutions. But what if one could just make a wish instead?

I asked my veterinary friends, what their one wish would be.

I would wish that every single person could see the beauty and spirit in every living being.

Every animal has the ability to love, care for, and provide companionship. My wish would be for humans to look into not just dogs and cats but also other species for these traits. There is so much beauty, grace, and gentle magnificence in so many other animals. I truly think the world would be a more peaceful kind place if we looked into the eyes of more creatures with the compassion, love and devotion that we do our dogs.

Oh, and if there could never be another animal killed by the hand of man because we couldn't recognize the inherent value of their unique miraculous life that would be my wish.

I love my pig, sheep, horses, and even those "so ugly they were cute" opossums as much as my dogs and my cats. To say one is more important or valuable than another is not possible.

—Dr. Krista Magnifico, DVM, Diary of a Real-Life Veterinarian
Dr. Krista on Twitter
Don't forget to check out Pawbly.com, around the clock free pet advice

***

If I could be granted any wish, I would wish to work my way out of a job by doing SUCH a great job of preventative care, disease and injury treatment and client education that along with all the other vet teams in the world, that every disease were eradicated and every injury were prevented and the health and well being of every pet were optimized and we are left holding our stethoscopes and scratching our heads as we look around at all of the healthy, happy and vibrant animals.

I suppose for that to be a 100% successful plan, we would need to beat mortality as well. (That would make all of our hard work of population control all that more important!) And truly, if overpopulation and mortality were both solved...I would call my career a complete success.

As it is, I will never be completely successful, but will continue my efforts to work towards as long, pain-free and illness free lives as possible for our animal friends.

Knowing how good things should be (OK we are not solving DEATH any time soon) and even how good things should be (a long, healthy live in a loving home for every pet) and how things ARE (often that good but not always) is a disconnect that can be discouraging. But knowing I can make some difference and partnering with the rest of the vet team and clients locally and the rest of pet lovers globally to get as close as possible to that wish coming true is encouraging enough to keep me coming back.

—Dr. Shawn M. Finch, DVM, Riley & James
Dr. Shawn on Twitter

***

I wish I could specialize
in veterinary pediatrics.

—Dr. Greg Magnusson, DVM (Leo's Daddy), Leo's Pet Care
Dr. Greg on Facebook and Twitter

***

My wish would be that everyone had the financial resources necessary to properly care for their pets.

Every day I receive emails from people who are trying their best to figure out how to come up with the funds to pay for what their beloved pets need. Some of these requests are truly tragic because a super-fixable problem is described- perhaps a broken leg, yet the people writing to me are having to consider euthanasia because of their limited financial resources.

I encourage them to contact their local shelter with hopes that they can find some assistance there. I also refer them to my website where I provide a lengthy list of organizations that may be able to provide them with financial assistance.

—Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, Speaking for Spot
Dr. Kay on Facebook and Twitter

***

That's an easy one - to not have owner's financial constraints limit me from providing the care that their animals need.

It's not a perfect solution, but pet insurance can certainly help.

—Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM, Fully Vetted

***

The wish that I would like to have granted (as pertaining to veterinary medicine) would be that pet owners would be dedicated to preventing diseases in their companion canines and felines that are truly preventable: periodontal disease and obesity (the number one and two diseases seen in veterinary clinical practice).

Both diseases have potentially irreversible side effects that can severely compromise a pet's quality of life.

—Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Los Angeles, The Daily Vet
Dr. Patrick on Facebook and Twitter

***

That's an interesting question...

My one wish would be that people would adequately research a particular breed prior to adding an animal to their household.

There are so many dogs and cats that end up in shelters, rescues or worse, everyday.

Often, many of these animals were a wrong fit into that individual's household, right from the get go. People often fall in love with a look of a breed rather than their characteristics.

—Dr. Roxane Pardiac, DVM

***

Allow me to preface my answer with the story of Pedro. Pedro is a 15-year-old, 17-pound Chihuahua mix who was diagnosed last year with a severe cardiac arrhythmia. It quickly became apparent that without a pacemaker, he wouldn’t survive.

This intervention meant traveling to a specialist and came with a $5000 price tag. Pedro’s parents chose to have the procedure done and borrowed the money necessary to pay his ransom. He became my first patient to get a pacemaker.

I’ve practiced veterinary medicine for nearly 17 years, working in a busy emergency practice, general practice, and alternative practice. I’ve seen countless committed clients forced to decline expensive tests, procedures, or referrals because they simply weren’t affordable. I’ve wrestled with these painful decisions in my own family.

My utopian wish: That the best modern medicine and technology have to offer be affordable and accessible for every pet.

Pedro, by the way, warms my heart every time I see him. He still acts like a puppy and I hope will live for another decade with his bionic ticker.

—Dr. Julie Buzby, South Carolina, ToeGrips
Dr. Julie on Facebook and on Twitter

***

I would love to see all of the shelters emptied by adoption.

—Dr. Keith Niesenbaum, VMD, New York, Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital
Dr. Keith on Facebook and on Twitter

***

It would be easy to say as a private veterinarian that my wish list would be to have my practice acquire a CAT scan to make it easier to provide diagnoses to my patients that such a modality would provide. It would be easy to say that; "I wish my clients had the resources (money and time) to treat their pets and my patients to the best of my, their and modern technology abilities."

But I really think my wish is, "Let there be less but better science published."

The corollary is that " Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof."

The worst example in the last 12 months was the extraordinary claim in a study from France that claimed that GM foods caused cancer. Newspapers ran this headline on the front page. Less than 12 months later the study was repudiated as flawed. Hardly a peep from the press.

Our understanding of standards of research evidence and statistics has evolved far enough that bogus or bad studies or even worse unsubstantiated opinions should not get attention at all. If we all had to only read, understand, and communicate good science, my life and my patients' lives would be so much better. And so would society.

Of course maybe we need a study to confirm my hypothesis.

—Dr. Rae Worden, DVM, Ontario, Fergus Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Rae on Facebook and Twitter

***

A wish is something that is impossible or something that is imaginary. If a wish is actually attainable, then it would no longer be a wish but rather a goal. However, many goals have started out as wishes, so here is my wish.

My wish is for integrative medicine to become the norm, to be main stream, for all veterinarians to be on the same page when it comes to treatment options.

The hard core holistic medicine practitioners and the hard core evidence based medicine practitioners are on the fringes.

For the holistic practitioners, I will tell you there is a time for vaccines, antibiotics and yes, even corticosteroids. There are many times that the benefits of the altruistic medicine far outweighs the negative influences. In the long term, the body is a magnificent piece of machinery and can handle and recover very well from the use of altruistic medicine, if used judiciously and as necessary.

For evidence based practitioners, I will tell you that the scientific method is not flawless and because of this there is much that we do not understand, we do not know, and much we have wrong. There is a place for anecdotal evidence and the acknowledgement that each patient is just that - a single patient. A patient is not a number in a group and responds as an individual to treatments and should be treated as such.

That is my wish - a better understanding and cooperation for the betterment of patient treatment making integrative medicine as the norm. Once there then I can wish for functional medicine instead of reactionary medicine being the norm, but that would be asking for a big wish to change both diagnostics and treatment options.

—Dr. Daniel Beatty, DVM, Dog Kinetics
    Dr. Dan on Facebook and Twitter

***

Related articles:
Veterinarians Answer: What Do You Consider The Biggest Breakthrough In Veterinary Medicine?
Veterinarians Answer: Vegan Diet For Dogs?
Veterinarians Answer: What Is Your Biggest Pet Parent Peeve?
Veterinarians Answer: What Is The Biggest Toll Our Dogs Pay For Obesity?
Veterinarians Answer: Heartworm Disease And Prevention
Veterinarians Answer: Do You Often Have Difficulties Getting Clients To Believe Their Dog Is In Pain?

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Dawg Business Veterinarian Survey; Do Vets Have Difficulty In Convincing Our Clients That Their Dog Is In Pain?

My good friend, and uber dog blogger on all things dog, asked me to participate in her most recent veterinary survey about whether or not I have difficulty in convincing my clients that their dog is in pain.

For those of you who find this question perplexing I will provide a bit of background.

You see veterinary medicine has evolved considerably over the last four decades. There was a time when we didn't acknowledge (I was going to say believe, but I wanted to provide some small shred of credit to my predecessors), that pets felt pain. I know it seems preposterous now, doesn't it? Well, it is still a topic of some considerable debate and cajoling within the veterinary world. Drug companies, vet schools, and even our veterinary conventions still have open debates about how to recognize pain. (I am encouraged that the discussion has progressed from "how to identify," because it has been about three decades of trying to convince vets that pets "do feel pain'). There were even studies done to try to scientifically prove (we like to think of ourselves as a science based profession), so every thought, idea, and principle has to be based on a study. (Sigh, how many pets had to endure unspeakable tests to prove this?, I dare not ask, and hope to never hear about). But, yes, after four decades the profession now "believes that pets are capable of feeling pain."

This is where Jana's question originates. She asked those of us vets active in the social media world about our experiences with our clients and whether the other side of the fence needed convincing that their pets might be experiencing pain.

What an interesting bunch of answers. They give a very interesting snapshot of where veterinary medicine is now.

From Jana Rade's blog, "Dawg Business,"

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Veterinarians Answer: Do You Often Have Difficulties Getting Clients To Believe Their Dog Is In Pain?

Would you know of your dog was in pain? Would you believe if your veterinarian told you? Many people are still denial about their dog's pain.

I asked my veterinary friends how commonly they deal with denial in regard to pain in dogs.

***

Question: Do you often have difficulties getting clients believe that their dog is in pain? How do you convince them?

Yes, trying to convince owners that their dogs are in chronic pain and not just "slowing down" or "getting older" is a daily struggle.

I find one of the most effective methods of proving pain is to prescribe an effective pain reliever and watch what happens. If the dog starts "acting like a puppy again" with a pain reliever on board, you know he or she was hurting before.

—Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM, Fully Vetted

***

I've written not once, but twice about this.

First, "Top 7 Misleading Phrases Vets Hear in the Exam Room" described the problem, that most pet owners flatly refuse to believe their veterinarian when we tell them an animal is in pain. Then, in "15 Ways Dogs and Cats Tell Us They Are In Pain" I described in more detail the subtle clues pet owners can use to help them decide if their furry family member needs help.

I think the primary reason most pet owners refuse to acknowledge their animal is in pain is because of our stubborn refusal to accept guilt.

By housing a painful animal, especially one not showing obvious symptoms of pain, a pet owner must acknowledge a few things. First, they are powerless to prevent pain. Second, they are directly responsible for choosing whether or not to let another living creature continue life in pain. Third, they are similarly solely responsible (emotionally and financially) for any treatment of that pain, which might impact other areas of their life. Fourth, acknowledging pain, especially that associated with senior health concerns, forces an owner to consider their own mortality.

In short, most people get a pet thinking it will live its whole life pain free and one day suddenly die in its sleep. When pain complicates the relationship, that creates a cognitive dissonance that most owners have difficulty processing.

How does a veterinarian help a pet owner deal with pain? Gently, patiently, with the forgiveness of a priest, and the acceptance of a zen monk.

—Dr. Greg Magnusson, DVM (Leo's Daddy), Leo's Pet Care
Dr. Greg on Facebook and Twitter

***

People often underestimate the degree of pain or discomfort that their dog is experiencing. While many dogs are very stoic, cats Re even better at hiding pain.

Owner's will often come in with a dog that is limping, or even more dramatically not using a limb at all. A typical response is well, he's limping but at least it doesn't hurt him. It takes patience to explain each time that that the dog is limping because the leg hurts. Dogs do not necessarily cry out or whimper when in pain.

Pain can cause even more subtle changes in cats. Behavioral changes as reluctance to jump on furniture or changes in litter box habits can be a reflection of a painful condition.

So pets that are not acting well may be covering painful conditions and should be evaluated by a veterinarian

—Dr. Keith Niesenbaum, VMD, New York, Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital
Dr. Keith on Facebook and on Twitter

***

Some pet parents who have had experience with pet pain are receptive to the evidence of painpresented to them and accept and believe there is pain present and they are on board with the need to treat it.

Others, when shown the rotten teeth, stiff legs, muscles in spasm, inflamed ulcerated skin or ears will say, "Well he does not act like he is in pain." All of these abnormalities are of course painful and need treatment.

Owners and veterinarians who are tuned into pain recognize it, others do not accept the presence of pain and treat it with denial. Many confuse pain with aging.

Healthy aging is pain free, diseased pets are painful at any age. Unfortunately some (many) owners will ignore those abnormalities and someday will present a pet as not eating, moaning, gasping, and say "He must be in pain" and he may be BUT he is dying now as well.

Another piece of the puzzle is economics. A pet in pain is still a companion, goes for his walks and accepts the attention of the household. In other words, his pain does not affect his ability to do his job. Now consider a lame cow. A lame cow does not produce much milk, or meat. The farmer is economically punished for having a painful animal and will treat the cow.

A painful pet owner incurs no negative consequences related to denying the presence of pain, but if they accept there is pain then they incur an economic penalty in the form of paying for the needed treatments. The willful blinding of humans to pet pain problems because of the economic issues that raises is one of the best reasons to have pet health insurance as it enables people to concentrate on the welfare of the pet rather than the cost of that welfare.

—Dr. Rae Worden, DVM, Ontario, Fergus Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Rae on Facebook and Twitter

***

Clients fall on a spectrum ranging from intuitively perceptive about their dog’s discomfort to blatantly ignorant.

The most common scenarios where I have trouble convincing clients of pain are dental disease and lameness. Both can be associated with chronic pain which dogs learn to live with.

Studies have shown that dogs and cats have similar pain thresholds to humans, so we know from research and professional experience that these conditions can be excruciating.Yet in most cases, the dogs will keep eating, keep wagging their tails, and never whine or cry.

I’ve had very smart people escort a limping dog into my exam room and say, “It doesn’t seem to bother him.” If it didn’t bother him, he’d be bearing full weight on the leg. He’s not using the leg because it hurts!

Animals mask pain. For a wild canine, it’s the prudent thing to do when trying to survive in a pack. Once I explain this to a client, often asking them to remember how their tooth abscess or sprained ankle felt, they come to understand that pain is real for their dog and undeniably decreasing their beloved pet’s quality of life.

However, the proof which is guaranteed to convince any skeptic is the pet’s new attitude and vitality when we resolve/control the pain. Witnessing that transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of being a veterinarian.

—Dr. Julie Buzby, South Carolina, ToeGrips
Dr. Julie on Facebook and on Twitter

***

I think that many people get so used to seeing their dogs limping or stiff-gaited that this becomes normal for them.

Additionally, many people seem to think that if there is no whining or whimpering, there is no pain. I take the time to gently explain that lameness or stiffness implies discomfort and ask clients to try what I recommend for a period of two weeks to see if improvement is recognized. This approach seems to work well for most folks.

—Dr. Nancy Kay, DVM, Speaking for Spot
Dr. Kay on Facebook and Twitter

***

I am very fortunate to be working with a group of clients who trust my advice, and care deeply for their pet.

Every patient that I see is asked a litany of questions about their pets full overall health. I spend a great deal of time in the exam room talking. We talk about everything from day to day activities, general health concerns, diet, exercise, mental alertness and stimuli, to any changes in behavior/activity, or ability to ambulate. I try to get a comprehensive over view of all aspects of the pets health and well being, and address any and all changes or needs.

All pets that are considered geriatric, present with any degree of limping, or that are pre-op candidates receive a comprehensive exam to identify any signs of pain or discomfort.

Every surgical patient is given pain medications for their procedure. To avoid any discussion of not wanting to provide a pain medication the cost of the medication is included and not optional for all procedures. On the invoice the pain medication is listed as zero to further remind our clients who important and necessary the pain medication is to our treatment plan.

For any patient that the owner is not convinced may be in pain we often provide a trial (these are provided free by the drug company) size of a pain medication for the client to use to see if they see "any response to treatment." This works well for the osteoarthritis or chronic disc disease dogs.

I spend a long time talking about the many different pain options available, the range of affordable options, any possible side effects, and long term monitoring should they decide to continue the medication.

I have found that in almost all cases if I can effectively communicate options and encourage trying, clients are very willing, and happy to provide pain relief to their pets.

The key to a successful pain management program is to talk openly and honestly about the many options available. And to remind clients that there is a large range of medication options and prices. And I never withhold the fact that many of these are available generically and at significantly discounted "bottle prices."

I am so fortunate to have clients that see their pets as family members and understand that pain management is one of the most important hallmarks to a "good quality of life" for their pet and that like every treatment option we try we may have to try a few options before the ideal one is identified.

—Dr. Krista Magnifico, DVM, Diary of a Real-Life Veterinarian
Dr. Krista on Twitter
Don't forget to check out Pawbly.com, around the clock free pet advice

***

I think most pet parents I meet are aware of a pet's ability to feel pain, especially when it comes to surgeries and post-operative pain control.

Recognizing dental pain is still a struggle that I regularly face. Dental cleanings are not inexpensive and many pets have very advance periodontal disease by the time the pet parent agrees to or request a dental cleaning. I ask them to think about how much a tooth ache pained them and many people can then relate.

Others still deny the dental pain saying their pet still eats. I remind them if the pet won't eat, they will die. I also ask about eating g behaviors such as excess drool, dropping food, or chewing on a preferred side. If they admit to any of these I explain this as a result of oral pain.

—Dr. Laci Schaible, DVM, VetLIVE
Dr. Laci on Facebook and Twitter

***

I don't often encounter challenges in alerting my clients to their pet’s painful conditions.

By discussing the characteristics of their pet’s mobility during my history-taking process, my clients come to understand that the pet’s difficulty moving up or down from elevated surfaces, decreased interest in playing or socializing with human or animal family members, or reluctance to being touched in uncomfortable areas are all potential indicators of pain-causing medical conditions (arthritis, intervertebral disc disease [IVDD], cancer, etc.).

Pairing these characteristics with the physical examination and observation of a pet’s ambulation increases my client’s awareness of their pet’s pain. Increased awareness promotes their willingness to pursue a diagnosis through diagnostic imaging (radiographs, MRI, CT, etc.) and the most appropriate treatments for their pet’s particular condition (pain medication, nutraceuticals, acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle modification, etc).

—Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Los Angeles, The Daily Vet
Dr. Patrick on Facebook and Twitter

***

Fortunately I do not often have difficulties getting clients to believe that their dog is in pain. Often it is the reason they are visiting.

If they do need convincing, for example, with previously undiagnosed oral pain from dental disease or hip pain from osteoarthritis, I demonstrate for them during the physical exam - press on the sore gums or extend the leg of the sore hip.

Most pets are sweet and will not bite when you do this (the sign I was taught to look for! Either pets were grumpier or we used to let pain get WAY too severe before we recognized it!) So I also point out to clients how their dog is licking his lips or tensing up or turning when pain is elicited. I feel like a jerk for that few seconds, but it is worth the long term benefit of getting clients to realize their dogs' pain and getting the dogs the treatment they need.

If clients have any doubt, they believe 100% after their pets' pain has been treated and relieved, and seeing the pets at a late visit comfortable and pain free is one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do.

—Dr. Shawn M. Finch, DVM, Riley & James
Dr. Shawn on Twitter

To visit Dawg Business blog

Please let me know your thoughts on this subject.

If you have a pet related question you can find me at Pawbly.com, or on Twitter @FreePetAdvice.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Guest Blog, Dawg Business Mini Survey, Heartworm Disease and Prevention

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Veterinarians Answer: Heartworm Disease And Prevention

Do you think your dog might be at risk of contracting heartworm disease? Do you think it's something to worry about or not so much? Is your dog on preventative or do you think they don't need one?

I asked my veterinary friends.

Question: Have you been seeing heartworm positive dogs in your area? Do you feel that dog owners underestimate the seriousness of the issue?

***

Yes, we do see heartworm positive dogs in our area.

Some of them are rescues coming up from the south but some are residents of Rhode Island.

I do feel that many owners underestimate the seriousness of this issue and I believe that internet sites that advise people that their dogs don't need heartworm or that the preventive medication is dangerous are a big part of the problem.

I believe it is irresponsible as a blogger or writer to be giving that type of advice.

—Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM, Rhode Island, Pet Health Care Gazette
Dr. Lorie on Facebook and Twitter

***

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. This means thatheartworm disease is a regional issue which correlates to climate. When I lived in central Pennsylvania, I saw very few cases of heartworm disease. I now live on the coast of South Carolina, where the locals joke that the mosquito is our state bird. Unfortunately, our practice has seen 10 heartworm positive dogs this year.

A few of those dogs were from shelters, presumably not on preventative, but the rest were beloved companions, whose owners were sporadic in administering preventative, or had stopped giving it through the winter months. Their owners, like most, underestimated the seriousness of the issue.

Treating heartworm disease is neither simple nor benign. Treatment involves killing adult worms (which can be up to 14 inches long) residing in the dog’s heart and pulmonary arteries. It expensive for the client and painful for the dog, not to mention that the dog must be very strictly confined for one month following the final treatment. Thankfully, prevention is simple, safe, and comparatively inexpensive!

—Dr. Julie Buzby, South Carolina, ToeGrips
Dr. Julie on Facebook and on Twitter

***

I think that in light of the last few years of a struggling economy and many people being squeezed so tightly to try to make ends meet among a long list of demands from all sides thatheartworm disease has become more prevalent.

I have spoken to many clients who have had to choose between "ideal care" for their pet which included flea & tick prevention, heartworm prevention, all recommended vaccines and high end food. For many of my clients their concerns about feeding their family and keeping a roof over their heads meant foregoing the recommendations of me, their veterinarian. I saw heartworm prevention sales decrease, and routine visits followed. I also saw an increase in advanced illness because many people took a "watch and wait approach" which in some cases caused more advanced, expensive, and more difficult to resolve diseases and illnesses.

Between the decrease in available funds for pets due to the economy and a false sense of safety about the prevalence and consequences of heartworm disease I have seen more dogs test positive for heartworm disease in the last few years.

I do think that many people do not understand how easily and unknowingly the disease is spread, how simply and economically it can be prevented, and the expense and danger treating this disease poses to their pet.

It seems that no matter how many times I tell clients about this potentially life threatening disease, the danger and expense of treating it, and the advances of modern medicine in being able to prevent it so effectively, I still see dogs that test positive.

One mention of advice (my hashtag is after all "FreePetAdvice), Please buy your heartworm prevention from your veterinarian. If you do your dog is protected by the heartworm manufacturers guarantee, IF you give it monthly (as prescribed). And please test your dog yearly. If your pet tests positive you need to know ASAP.

—Dr. Krista Magnifico, DVM, Pennsylvania,  Diary of a Real-Life Veterinarian,
    www.pawbly.com
    Dr. Krista on Twitter

***

We saw three dogs with heart worm disease last year.

I don't think that dog owners realize that the NY metro area is seeing an increase in heart worm disease due to a number of factors.

The natural spread of this parasite over the years
The importation of infected dogs by rescue groups tat mean well but don't test dogs before bringing them north
Potential resistant strains of the parasite emerging in the south.
Mild winters increasing the numbers of insect vectors

All dogs in endemic areas are at risk, even if they do not go out, as mosquitoes will come in. And cats are at ink as well, but that is another question for another time

—Dr. Keith Niesenbaum, VMD, New York, Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital
Dr. Keith on Facebook and on Twitter

***

To first quote the OVMA website " How prevalent is heartworm in Ontario? Do I really need to worry about it in my pet?

The actual number of heartworm positive pets in Ontario varies from year to year.

While there is currently no system in place to track every case of heartworm in the province, a survey conducted in 2010 found thatthe number of dogs with heartworm in Ontario increased by 60% between 2002 and 2010.

Of the dogs that tested positive for heartworm in Canada, nine per cent of them were confirmed as having been imported from the Southern United States (Katrina dogs) and 12 per cent had been imported from other parts of the United States or other countries. Fifty-one per cent had never left their local area.

The take home message is that Ontario pets are vulnerable from a variety of sources, and prevention is the best approach."

Now the best information resource for this information is one's local veterinarian.

On the internet one can find opinions and information from around the world. The problem with parasites is; they behave differently depending on the local climate, and density of the hosts available to them.

Within my practice the risk of heartworm is measurably greater 10 miles away than outside my front door. Go another 10 miles it increases again, and go 60 miles and the risk is now as close to 100 % as mother nature allows us to get.

Dog owners that have lost a dog to heartworm stay on top of testing and prevention. Those that have not been that unlucky may feel it is not a concern and under estimate the impact. The science and epidemiological information is there for heartworm, humans pay attention to things they feel are of importance to them and ignore those things they feel are not important.

—Dr. Rae Worden, DVM, Ontario, Fergus Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Rae on Facebook and Twitter

***

Most of my clients understand heartworms are bad news.

They also understand there is easy monthly prevention. The only problem we ever get into is this business of "you can skip giving heartworm and flea prevention in the winter" that some clients have been raised with.

Almost invariably, that logic causes a gap in prevention that begins innocently enough as a plan to skip December, January and February. Yet somehow, it always seems that May rolls around, the snowmen are all melted, Christmas is long forgotten, the flowers are blooming, the dog is swarming with mosquitoes, crawling with fleas, and has no heartworm or flea prevention on board because the owner was so busy enjoying spring that he forgot to protect his furry loved ones. Then we get to spend the rest of the year fighting nasty fleas that could have been easily prevented, and worrying if Fido is growing heartworms inside until that six month post-exposure recheck heartworm test.

I realize prevention is a hassle, and can get expensive. The alternative is worse.

Train yourself to a habit of giving your dogs their monthly flea and heartworm stuff on the same day every month forever, and you'll prevent a world of hurt.

—Dr. Greg Magnusson, DVM (Leo's Daddy), Indiana, Leo's Pet Care
Dr. Greg on Facebook and Twitter

***

No, I have not been seeing (an increase in numbers of) heartworm positive dogs in my area of veterinary practice in southern California (Los Angeles).

There was only one occasion when I diagnosed a dog as being a positive in my seven years of SoCA practice. This occurred in a dog that was brought to Los Angeles from Louisiana (where heartworm disease runs rampant) after being rescued from the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

As our desert-adjacent climate is typically sees very little rain and is generally quite arid, the conditions that support the lifecycle of the mosquito are not as available as other parts of the country

Yet, such conditions do exist and mosquitoes can prosper.

Plus, wild populations of changes (coyotes, etc.) have been reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to carry heartworm disease and could be a vector for transmission into our domesticated companion canines (and other species).

—Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Los Angeles, The Daily Vet
Dr. Patrick on Facebook and Twitter

***

No, we don't see it on our area. As for prevention in endemic areas, yes, owners to underestimate the issue.

Heartworm disease doesn't show itself until the dog is quite sick.

It is easy for owners to ignore prevention and most owners don't realize the seriousness of the disease and how risky it is to treat it once it is diagnosed. All those things lead owners to underestimate the disease.

—Dr. Karel Carnohan, British Columbia, Animal Nutrition and Wellness Services
Dr. Karel and Facebook and Twitter

Did these answers change your mind regarding heartworm prevention?

Dawg Business Mini Survery, Heartworm Disease and Prevention

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Heartworm Survey

I received an email from my fellow blogger and dog health advocate Jana Rade. She writes the widely viewed blog DawgBlogger, publishes the DawgBusiness journal, and the daily online paper DVM's daily, and on twitter @DawgBlogger.

http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.ca/.

http://paper.li/DawgBlogger/dvms

She can also be found on twitter @DawgBlogger. If you have any kind of dog query I guarantee she has researched it, published about it, and helped other dog parents with it.

The question she asked me was;

Question: Have you been seeing heartworm positive dogs in your area? Do you feel that dog owners underestimate the seriousness of the issue?

Your answer can be as long or short as you like. Publishing your answers includes backlinks to your website/blog. Here are links to the past surveys.

http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.ca/2013/02/veterinarians-answer-what-is-biggest.html

http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.ca/2012/12/veterinarians-answer-what-is-your.html

http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.ca/2012/11/veterinarians-answer-what-do-you.html

Here is my answer;

Hello Jana,
What a great question!

I think that in light of the last few years of a struggling economy and many people being squeezed so tightly to try to make ends meet among a long list of demands from all sides that heartworm disease has become more prevalent.

I have spoken to many clients who have had to choose between "ideal care" for their pet which included flea & tick prevention, heartworm prevention, all recommended vaccines and high end food. For many of my clients their concerns about feeding their family and keeping a roof over their heads meant foregoing the recommendations of me, their veterinarian. I saw heartworm prevention sales decrease, and routine visits followed. I also saw an increase in advanced illness because many people took a "watch and wait approach" which in some cases caused more advanced, expensive, and more difficult to resolve diseases and illnesses.

Between the decrease in available funds for pets due to the economy and a false sense of safety about the prevalence and consequences of heartworm disease I have seen more dogs test positive for heartworm disease in the last few years.

I do think that many people do not understand how easily and unknowingly the disease is spread, the simplicity and how economically in which it can be prevented, and the expense and danger treating this disease poses to their pet.

It seems that no matter how many times I tell clients about this potentially life threatening disease, the danger and expense of treating it, and the advances of modern medicine in being able to prevent it so effectively. I still see dogs that test positive.

One mention of advice (my twitter hashtag is after all "FreePetAdvice), Please buy your heartworm prevention from your veterinarian. If you do your pet is protected by the heartworm manufacturers guarantee, IF you give it monthly (as prescribed). And please test your pet yearly. If your pet tests positive you need to know ASAP.

I can be reached anytime at "Diary of a Real-Life Veterinarian" or if you ever have a pet question, curiosity, or just want to visit other pet loving people at www.Pawbly.com
Thanks Jana for always asking such great questions, and always educating us pet lovers.

Here is another link to an article on about the cost of treatment for heartworms;

http://www.smartbrief.com/05/20/13/ounce-heartworm-prevention-worth-pound-cure#.UZzClKKR-So

A link to an article on why we recommend annual heartworm testing;

http://www.smartbrief.com/04/11/13/why-annual-heartworm-testing-important-0#.UZzC9qKR-So

A link to an article on the rise of heartworm disease;

http://www.smartbrief.com/04/07/10/study-heartworm-cases-pets-are-rise#.UZzDP6KR-So

A link to understanding the heartworm cycle;

http://www.smartbrief.com/12/01/11/understanding-life-cycle-heartworms#.UZzDxqKR-So

Did you know that heartworm disease can be found in all 50 states? And that there is no treatment for cats?

http://www.smartbrief.com/04/03/12/early-spring-requires-extra-vigilance-preventing-heartworm-disease#.UZzEDKKR-So

Do you think that you can't afford heartworm prevention? Did you know that there are many options for prevention and that some of them are very affordable. Commercially available from about $4 per month. At over $1,000 for treatment and the considerable risk the disease causes, can you really afford NOT to treat?

What are your experiences?

Please share them with us, and please help educate others in the importance of protecting pets from this disease.

Thanks,

Krista

Have any questions about heartworm disease? Or heartworm prevention?

Ask us at pawbly.com. Always free, always there for you and your pet!

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Diary of a Real-Life Veterinarian