Heartworm Disease Still on Vet's Radar
Wagging her stubby Jack Russell
tail, Freckles arrives for her veterinary exam with owner Julie in tow. After
relocating to Las Vegas from California a few years ago, Julie discontinued
Freckles’ heartworm preventative when neighbors told her she didn’t need it
here. The duo makes the occasional RV
trip to California on weekends, but Julie never got around to resuming
heartworm prevention. Her vet’s suggestion
for heartworm preventive was initially dismissed with the reply “Oh there
aren’t any mosquitoes in Las Vegas. And besides, Freckles stays in the RV most
of the time and isn’t exposed to mosquitoes.”
Just like an engorged biting
mosquito, these common heartworm misconceptions need to be squashed.
What is heartworm disease?
Passed through the bite of an
infected mosquito, heartworm disease results in development of worms in the
heart which reach a size up to 14 inches in length. Heartworms quietly
reproduce without apparent symptoms until significant disease occurs in the pet’s
heart, kidney, lungs and liver. A veterinarian might suspect heartworm disease
in dogs that cough, are intolerant to regular exercise or have fainting spells,
but by that time you have one sick critter.
There is treatment for heartworm
disease, but it can be costly, there are side effects to the treatment and some
pets with advanced infections suffer health deterioration by the time of
diagnosis. Veterinarians agree that prevention is safer and cheaper than
waiting to treat established infections.
Heartworm: The facts
Do we have heartworm in Las Vegas?
Sure we do. Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all fifty states, but no
doubt, the infection rate here is much lower than in other parts of the country
where the disease is endemic (widespread throughout the area). But that doesn’t
mean the disease isn’t around.
According to the laboratory data tracking
through Idexx Laboratories and Antec Diagnostics, 1 in 323 dogs tested in
Nevada was positive for heartworm disease. And 54% of those cases occurred
right here in Clark County.
Take your pet on a quick visit to California or other nearby states, and
you are in smack dab in heartworm areas as well. Check out the heartworm
incidence map by state or county on the Companion Animal Parasite Council
(CAPC) website. http://www.petsandparasites.org/parasite-prevalence-maps/
Dogs spending
a lot of time outdoors are at higher risk for acquiring heartworm disease, but
that doesn’t mean that indoor dogs are somehow protected against the disease. Since
mosquitoes don’t knock on doors before entering, they easily fly inside a house
to bite a house dwelling dog.
Proof of mosquitoes in our midst: West Nile Virus
But for those that or those that argue
that we don’t have mosquitoes in Clark County, all you have to do is read local
headlines this week about West Nile Virus, an infection passed by a biting mosquito
and which infects people, horses and birds. So far in 2012, six people in Southern
Nevada have confirmed West Nile virus infections and one recently died from the
infection. Fortunately West Nile Virus doesn’t affect dogs or cats, but the
detection of this mosquito borne human disease should alert pet owners to the realities
of mosquito born disease for people and pets.
According to the Southern Nevada
Health District, 17 species of mosquitoes are known to fly in Southern Nevada
skies. So yes indeed, these pesky insects are in the Vegas area.
![]() |
Foreclosed home pool- mosquito breeding ground |
Mosquitoes
adapt to life in unusual areas
The arid Las Vegas climate isn’t
the typical mosquito haven. Usually we think of states with high humidity and
ample precipitation as mosquito zones. But some mosquitoes cleverly find
breeding sites in micro-environments and unusual breeding sites.
Mosquito micro-climates arise through
landscaping irrigation run-off, community ponds and stagnant pools left behind
after home foreclosures. But even tinier micro-environments develop in old discarded
tires, bird baths or overturned containers. The sneaky Asian tiger mosquito
(Aedes albopictus) enjoys urban living and reproduces in flowerpots on
high-rise apartment balconies.
![]() |
Landscape irrigation run-off at Town Center Dr. & Alta |
Salt Lake City, Utah used to see
few mosquitoes until a city beautification plan resulted in planting of trees
in the city. When trees were later pruned, it provided a happy home for the
tree hole mosquito (Aedes sierrensis), which carries heartworm disease. Now Salt
Lake City is endemic for heartworms, not because of weather conditions, but
because of human intervention.
Think prevention
Freckles is now protected with her
monthly year-round heartworm preventative and her owner, Julie is taking
precautions from mosquitoes for her own health. These disease prevention steps
are easy and inexpensive.
It’s time Las Vegas residents realize
that old claims of “We don’t have mosquitoes in Las Vegas,” is no longer
accurate. Get your pet on monthly year-round heartworm prevention. Protect
yourself against mosquito carried disease. Don’t ignore the realities of these
flying pests- they are here to stay.
To learn more on West Nile Disease
and Mosquito control methods, visit the Southern Nevada Health District. http://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/west-nile/index.php
For more
information on heartworm disease in pets, visit the American Heartworm Society
website.http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html

There is no such place in the world where you have not seen mosquitoes. It is everywhere. So you have to take essential steps to control them if you want to get rid of malaria, dengue and other diseases.
ReplyDeleteLas Vegas Pest Control
thanks
ReplyDeleteWe are so lucky as pet parents because nowadays, a lot of dog illnesses that can be easily prevented or treated. For example, heartworm in dogs can be prevalent, but there are numerous treatment options for it. However, I would not recommend self-medicating this condition, and a veterinarian should still assess the condition before starting the treatment. You can learn more here: http://dogsaholic.com/care/heart-worm-medicine-for-dogs.html
ReplyDeletethanks for this amazing information.
ReplyDeleteHappy Independence Day Wishes
Very nicely written blog...Relly loved reading it...Please check my blogs for
ReplyDeleteJaipur escorts
Jaipur escorts
Jaipur escorts
Delhi escorts
Guwahati escorts
Guwahati escorts
Guwahati escorts
Guwahati escorts
Lucknow escorts
Aerocity escorts