Veterinarian Recommends Preventive Tablets

 

A parasite that can be deadly for dogs is on the rise in the Omaha area, veterinarians said.

 

 

They said they've seen an increase in the number of heartworm cases.

 

 

The Nebraska Humane Society is caring for a black Labrador mix named Jeremy that got heartworm through a mosquito bite.

 

 

"It enters the dog in the larvae form and then spreads, and you actually get long worms that form in the heart and the vessels of the heart," said Dr. Kristin Engel, a Nebraska Humane Society veterinarian.

 

 

She said her office has seen a lot more cases.

 

 

"We're looking at maybe two to three dogs a week that we're having come up positive on our tests and that are having to go through treatment," said Engel.

 

 

She said treatment can be risky to the animal, but not getting treated is worse.

 

 

"Heartworm disease will kill a dog," she said.

 

 

Treating a dog with heartworm lasts about 30 days and can cost hundreds. Engel said giving dogs preventive tablets are a better bet, physically and financially. The tablets cost, on average, about $10 per month.

 

 

"It doesn't look like much, but they must taste good," she said. "Most dogs like them."

 

Engel said owners should not dismiss the disease as simply a problem at shelters. She said it's a snapshot of the overall community.

 

 

"We're seeing it in shelter dogs that have otherwise unknown histories," she said. "They may or may not have had vet care, but that's just an example of what you're seeing in homes as well."

 

 

She said an initial symptom of heartworm is coughing, but it's very difficult to detect. Regular veterinary visits are the best way to spot the disease early.

 

 

Engel said heartworm can also be a problem in cats.