Southeast U.S. "hotbed" for heartworms, warns AHSApril 11, 2023An influx of heartworm-positive dogs across the U.S. and a general lack of prevention compliance are the driving factors behind the uptick in heartworm cases. This is according to the American Heartworm Society (AHS). The group has unveiled its 2022 Heartworm Incidence Map, drawn from data provided by thousands of veterinary practices and shelters across the U.S. The numbers show the locales with highest heartworm incidence continue to be those in and adjacent to the lower Mississippi Delta, AHS reports. These areas typically experience conditions fostering widespread heartworm infection, including, among other factors, a mosquito-heavy climate. "The states with the highest density of diagnosed heartworm cases in the latest survey were Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas," says AHS president Jennifer Rizzo, DVM. "Meanwhile, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas all saw expansions of high-density areas on our incidence map." Additionally, the report shows "unexpected increases" in incidence for states with historically low heartworm rates, including Washington, Oregon, Kansas, North Dakota, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. These areas also saw the development of new "hot spot" areas within their borders. Further, several urban cities (including Seattle, Wash., and Boise, Idaho, in the Northwest; Bismarck, N.D., in …
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Heartworm survey aims to educate on deadly diseaseFebruary 3, 2023Veterinarians from across the U.S. are asked to submit data from their clinics to be included in the 2022 American Heartworm Society (AHS) Heartworm Incidence Survey.
Heartworm diligence key to safe transport of dogsJanuary 12, 2021Ensuring the safe transport of canines and preventing the spread of disease is central to a newly published resource from the American Heartworm Society (AHS) and Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV).
Revert back to pre-pandemic heartworm practicesOctober 29, 2020While the COVID pandemic is not yet over, for veterinarians, it continues to be “business as usual” for heartworm prevention.
Southeast U.S. "hotbed" for heartworms, warns AHSApril 21, 2020While the COVID-19 pandemic remains top of mind in the U.S. and beyond, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) is reminding veterinarians to stay mindful of heartworm prevention.
New guidelines help ensure heartworm safety, prevention amid COVID-19April 7, 2020Conditions under which a veterinarian can delay annual heartworm tests during the COVID crisis is just one of the topics covered in new recommendations released by AHS.
AHS survey aims to educate on deadly diseaseFebruary 11, 2020The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is calling on animal health professionals to help educate the public on the ongoing threat of heartworm disease.
Boehringer Ingelheim launches initiative to fight heartworm disease in dogsMarch 6, 2019Boehringer Ingelheim is debuting Heartworm 2020, an initiative dedicated to increasing the number of dogs who receive heartworm disease prevention in 2019. The initiative comes in response to a report from the American Heartworm Society (AHS) that found a 21 percent increase in positive heartworm tests per clinic. "We knew we could help increase the number of dogs receiving the heartworm disease prevention," says Sarah Cloud, Heartgard brand director. "Heartworm 2020 addresses this issue at the grassroots level by asking everyone in the veterinary clinic to participate. If every clinic does their part to get 20 new dogs on prevention, that means 583,240 more dogs will be protected from this potentially deadly disease in 2019 than were protected in 2018." To help clinics accomplish the Heartworm 2020 goal, Heartgard Plus will give heartworm disease education tools and incentives to pet owners. Heartgard Plus will also provide clinics with tracking tools and educational resources for staff. "Helping clinics educate pet owners on the on-going risks of heartworm disease is the first step in increasing the number of dogs on prevention," says head of U.S. Pet Veterinary Professional Services, Zach Mills, DVM. "Heartworm 2020 will help educate pet owners on heartworm …
American Heartworm Society announces 2018 Heartworm University scheduleJanuary 5, 2018The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is redoubling efforts to bring the latest heartworm information directly to veterinarians and veterinary nurses via scientific symposia and proceedings. Heartworm University—a traveling four- to six-hour symposium taught by AHS faculty—provides practical clinical information in an interactive format that enables presenters to address specific audience concerns and questions. Course content incorporates essential disease pathophysiology, diagnostics, screening and testing, treatment protocols, prevention strategies, and pet owner counseling, while also covering issues such as heartworm incidence trends and resistance. A preliminary schedule for Heartworm University includes the following dates and venues: Tennessee VMA/Music City Conference, Feb. 25. This six-hour session, which will be taught by veterinary cardiologist Dr. Clarke Atkins, will be held in Murfreesboro, Tenn. For more information see http://tvmanet.com/music-city-veterinary-conference/. Louisiana Academy of Veterinary Practice, March 18. This six-hour session, taught by Dr. Atkins, will be held at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge, La. For more information, visit http://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/continuing_education/courses/laavp.php. Emerald Coast Veterinary Conference, June 14. This four-hour session, presented by AHS past president Dr. Stephen Jones, will be held at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Destin, Fla. For more information see http://emeraldcoastvc.com. …
AHS urges best practices to prevent, minimize heartworm transmission in dogsSeptember 14, 2017By Veterinary Practice News Editors The American Heartworm Society (AHS) has announced a new set of veterinary best practices for minimizing heartworm transmission in dogs relocated due to recent natural disasters, a cross-country family move, or other circumstances. The guidelines include recommendations for heartworm testing, treatment, and prevention, and were developed in collaboration with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV). "Preventing transmission of D. immitis has always been a focus of the AHS Heartworm Guidelines," sais Chris Rehm, DVM, AHS president. "However, we believe we need to do more, given the potential for heartworm-positive dogs to serve as reservoirs for infection. For example, if a microfilaria-positive dog is rescued in one state and subsequently moved to a new home in another state where nearby pets are unprotected, mosquitoes feeding on the new dog can quickly become heartworm vectors. The results can be disastrous for unprotected pets in the vicinity." Measures can be taken to protect the health of both infected animals and their new neighbors, according to Dr. Rehm. While the ideal scenario is to treat infected dogs before transporting or traveling with them, situations often dictate that infected animals cannot undergo …
