Horizon Animal Hospital, Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital

September 20, 2002
This summer I attended the annual ACVIM Internal Medicine meeting in Dallas, Texas. At this meeting I learned a great many things, however, there was one statement that really struck me. "The greatest predictor of serious disease is detecting a minor one."

While this statement seems obvious, the point was that, most serious problems have a preceding stage which is usually NOT obvious. It follows, that catching any disease in its early stage may give us a greater advantage in treating or controlling it (the same argument used to promote mammograms and prostate checks).

To catch a disease early we must start our detective work when the patient still appears healthy, or shows only minor changes. As the owner your, observations are vital in this effort. Sometimes, something as simple as a "weigh in" can reveal a problem at an early stage.

As the person most familiar with your pet’s behavior, your observations and questions are very important in directing the decision making process, and remember, there is no such thing as a dumb, or unimportant question.

So, what should we do? Because our pets age 5 to 7 times faster than we do, an annual examination is the most important. This exam, combined with your observations, the patient’s breed, age and medical history, will all influence what further testing we may want to perform.

As far as further testing is concerned, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for when to start screening. For example, it is common for the Wheaton Terrier breed to have hereditary kidney problems, therefore, it would not be unreasonable to recommend a screening test as early as 6 months of age!

As we control the spread of infectious diseases, such as distemper, parvo, and others, our pets live longer, and consequently, are faced with more age related problems. Once your pet reaches "middle age", screening bloodwork and urine tests should be performed annually in an effort to detect small problems before they become big ones.

"Middle age" varies by breed and species. For large breed dogs we recommend that testing start at 5 to 6 years of age. For smaller breeds, around age 8, and for cats at age 10. Remember, annual tests for your pet would be similar to a human getting an annual physical only once every 5 to 7 years.

YOUR PET’S DENTAL CARE…..
IT’S A SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE!
Pet owners are often confused about the necessity to visit the veterinarian regularly for dental health exams and cleanings. The reason is NOT to enhance your pet’s smile or cure bad breath, but rather, to prevent the acceleration or worsening of the age related problems we mentioned before.

Studies show that by age three, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of gum disease. We are here to provide your pet with the highest quality of medical care, including the prevention of serious health problems that can result from the onset of gum disease.

Plaque and tartar form naturally, especially near the gum line, and if this buildup is allowed to continue, it will soon develop into periodontal disease. This is where the health risk can become highly dangerous, not to mention painful for your pet.

Bacteria from gum disease can then enter your pet’s bloodstream, invading the heart, lungs and kidneys with potentially serious results. The effects may not be evident for years, however, by that time, the damage may already be done.

Consequently, we recommend that your pet have a dental exam and cleaning at least once a year. To reinforce the importance of this procedure we offer a special discount on dental procedures during the months of February and September every year.

For all pets 10 years of age or older, it is also highly recommended that they be on intravenous fluids during the dentals. This procedure helps to maintain blood pressure and protects older kidneys.

As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us during normal business hours of 7:30am to 5:30pm, Monday thru Wednesday and Friday, 7:30am to 7:00pm Thursday and 8:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday at 480-614-9500.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Beth A. Hareski, D.V.M.

Facts About Canine Heartworm Disease in Scottsdale (May, 2001)
Recent reports on radio and TV about an incidence of canine heartworm disease in Scottsdale have caused great concern for many of our clients.

It is true that canine heartworms are serious, and potentially fatal. They occur all over the world, particularly in areas where mosquitoes are prevalent. However, to properly evaluate the risk of your pet contracting this disease it is important to understand something about the life cycle of heartworms and how they are transmitted.

There are basically three stages in the life cycle of heartworms. Adult heartworms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of infected dogs and can survive there for up to five years. During this time a female will produce millions of young heartworms, called microfilaria, which live in the bloodstream. However, these immature heartworms cannot complete their entire life cycle in the dog, because mosquitoes are required as hosts for the middle stage of their development.

When a female mosquito feeds on an infected dog, it ingests the microfilaria. Over the next 10 to 30 days the microfilaria develop into infectious larvae inside the mosquito. If the mosquito bites another dog it will transmit these larvae into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream the larvae move to the heart and adjacent vessels, where they grow to maturity. Within 6 months, they begin reproducing, thereby completing the full life cycle.

Consequently, two conditions are required before transmission of the disease can take place. First, the presence of other dogs infected with heartworms, and second, the presence of mosquitoes. Heartworms cannot be transmitted by fleas, ticks or any other insects, nor directly by one dog to another.

There are many areas of the U.S. which, due to the prevalence of mosquitoes, are considered to be high risk for heartworm infection. In these locations it is strongly recommended that dogs be on a program of heartworm prevention, and to have annual heartworm blood tests. In rare cases cats may also become infected, but the likelihood is much lower.

Fortunately for us, many areas of the Phoenix-metro area have little or no mosquitoes. Consequently, the chances of your dog contracting the disease may be very low. However, there are some important risks to keep in mind.

For many years there have been pockets of heartworm disease here in the valley, especially near areas of standing water where mosquitoes can breed (such as agricultural areas, manmade lakes, etc.). Add to this the fact that many people move here, or visit here, from other parts of the country where the incidence of heartworm is much greater. Chances are some of these new arrivals are bringing infected dogs with them.

The critical factor is mosquitoes, and the likelihood that your dog will come into contact with them. If you live in an area where mosquitoes are rare, your dog spends most of it’s time inside the house and doesn’t travel with you, then the chances of them being exposed to heartworms are very low. On the other hand, if you see lots of mosquitoes, or live near areas of standing water, or the dog stays outside most of the day, or you take the dog with you to other areas of the state or country, then the risks of infection are increased.

At Horizon Animal Hospital we consider the circumstances of each individual case before recommending the use of heartworm preventative. We encourage each client to evaluate their own lifestyle, and the specific risk factors for their dog, before deciding whether or not a preventative has value for them. Dr. Hareski, Dr. Samson and Dr. Noreen will be more than happy to review the risk factors with you.

Blood tests are available that can detect the presence of heartworms. Some of our clients choose to test their dogs and then put them on a preventative, simply to have peace of mind. Others have their dogs tested, but then choose not to use a preventative. Finally, there are those who decide that the risks of infection are so low that they don’t have their dogs tested or use a preventative.

The preventative we most often recommend is Interceptor which also prevents three other common intestinal parasites at the same time. The cost of Interceptor averages between $3.00 and $8.00 per month, depending on the weight of the dog, and it is generally sold in six month supplies.

The cost of treating a heartworm infection (assuming no significant damage has been done to the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys or liver) will run between $175 and $250, again depending on the weight of the dog.

It is important to note that if you choose to treat your dog with a preventative, consistency is key. Any dog older than 6 months of age must be tested for heartworms before the treatments may begin. Giving the preventative to a dog that is infected with heartworms can cause the dog to become seriously ill or even die.

Once started, treatments may be stopped at any time without causing harm, however, they must not be resumed if it has been more than 60 days since the most recent treatment (i.e. no more than 30 days overdue). If it has been more 60 days since the last treatment, it is necessary to perform a blood test to confirm that the dog has not become infected in the interim.

This testing standard is conservative and may be more appropriate for areas of the country where heartworms are a bigger problem. However, it is important that a doctor review the facts and make that determination on a case by case basis before treatments are resumed without testing.

Heartworm blood tests are specific, stand alone tests that cost around $30. It is not part of, or included in, any other blood test that may be performed for any other reason. The fact that your dog may have had blood work done for some other reason does not mean that they have been tested for heartworms.

Dr. Hareski's puppy, Glory Be, featured in Petsmart ads (November, 2000)
Dr. Hareski's 4th of July puppy, Glory Be, is prominently featured in the Petsmart holiday ad campaign for Christmas 2000. Needless to say, both Dr. Beth and the breeder, Nora Balin, are very proud and excited. To see Glory's audition pictures click here. (another Petsmart poster - click here).

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