Summer has faded into fall, but warm, humid weather lingers for many regions across the country. So, too, do mosquitos and the threat of mosquito-borne diseases.
In the last month alone (September 2024), the spread of rare but potentially deadly diseases such as eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile have been in the news. Headlines urge pet owners to take precautions to keep themselves and their animals safe. To be sure, these diseases require our attention and vigilance. Still, one of the most urgent mosquito-borne risks facing pets is missing from the headlines: heartworms.
This is unfortunate because heartworm disease is the biggest threat to pets, and too many pet owners do not take it seriously. Efforts to convince pet owners of the urgency of heartworm prevention are still falling short. That is despite the veterinary community's longtime advocacy for the value of heartworm prevention and our ongoing work to communicate the risks and severity of heartworms to dog owners. Sadly, we are just not breaking through. To do so, passion and a healthy dose of persistence are needed in the push to educate, raise awareness, and dispel myths so pet owners become vigilant year-round and we reverse concerning trends in heartworm disease.
