Monday, March 24, 2014

Heartworm Prevention Made Easy


Heartworm Prevention Made Easy

Trouble remembering to give that monthly Heartworm Preventative?  Do you still have heartworm pills or topical product left from last year?
Even missing one monthly dose for your companion can result in a heartworm infection!

Capitol Illini Veterinary Hospital now offers 6 months of Heartworm protection in one simple injection.  Ask one of our staff members or veterinarians about a Proheart 6 injection to protect  your dog.

What is Heartworm disease and how is my dog be exposed?  Heartworm Disease is a serious, potentially fatal disease transmitted to dogs by infected mosquitos. The larvae transmitted by the mosquito develops into an adult worm in the heart of the dog within 6 months. Dogs in areas with high levels of mosquitoes are especially at risk. No matter the time of year or whether your dog is indoor or outdoor; heartworm disease is a risk year round. That is why year round continuous heartworm preventative is so critical.

Symptoms of heartworm infection may go unnoticed during the first 6 months after transmission, and are only detectable by a blood test after 6 months. As the adult worms develop in the heart, your pet may begin to show clinical signs such as a chronic cough, lack of stamina during exercise, breathing difficulty or just plain not feeling well.

We at Capitol Illini Veterinary Services know you want to take the best care of your companion. Prevention of disease is preferable to treatment for a variety of reasons. Mainly to prevent damage to the heart and respiratory system which can be permanent and possibly fatal. Secondly; expenses, as prevention usually costs about 1/10 of the cost of treatment which takes 5 months and requires exercise restriction during the entire treatment period.

Our busy lives seem to pass by quickly and a month passes even faster. It seems as if it is always time to give that monthly medication again. What if you only had to rely on Capitol Illini Veterinary Services to remind you twice a year for heartworm Prevention?

What is ProHeart 6?  It is an injection that protects your dog from heartworm infection for a full 6 months.  This product, from Zoetis, uses Moxidectin in a slow release formulation that is proven effective in dogs of various breeds and sizes over 6 months of age.  It also treats hookworms, a common intestinal parasite at the time of injection.




So why not leave Heartworm prevention for your dog in the hands of the Veterinarians and trained staff members at Capitol Illini Veterinary Services. We will be happy to discuss heartworm prevention with you and see what will work best for you and your companion. Give us a call or email us at mypet@capitolillinivet.com with any questions or to set up an appointment for your dog's first injection of ProHeart6.


Capitol Illini Veterinary Services where “Healthy Pets Make Happy People” 
Author:     Clyde D Dunphy DVM  

Friday, March 7, 2014

Happy Birthday Tomorrow to Dr. Marcum

Happy Birthday wishes to Dr. Marcum, who celebrates his special day tomorrow! We hope you have a terrific birthday!