tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post1208331015178665018..comments2023-09-21T10:44:10.199-04:00Comments on One Bark at a Time: Cutting through the heartworm BSFredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-50732025900201744632010-03-23T11:32:00.588-04:002010-03-23T11:32:00.588-04:00When I saw the THS post on their website, I said &...When I saw the THS post on their website, I said "huh? But the THS brought back dogs (4 in total, I think, but can't remember their names) from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina..." Perhaps a case of selective memory?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-67880773311732494022010-02-24T21:32:56.050-05:002010-02-24T21:32:56.050-05:00HTG, yeah, I've read that Collies and ivermect...HTG, yeah, I've read that Collies and ivermectin don't mix but now they've discovered what it is exactly in collies that makes some of them reactive to it. There's a DNA test available to see if a dog will be sensitive:<br /><br />http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/announcements/ivermectin/Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-4841191077593504362010-02-24T21:11:02.676-05:002010-02-24T21:11:02.676-05:00Perhaps Anon is instead referring the the fact tha...Perhaps Anon is instead referring the the fact that Ivermectin can be deadly to dogs that have the mdr1 gene?<br />(I only know about it because I recently looked in to getting as Australian Shepherd)<br /><br />http://www.busteralert.com/<br /><br />-HTGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-70332566135861603552010-02-24T16:14:13.938-05:002010-02-24T16:14:13.938-05:00Caveat, first, welcome back.
I don't at all d...Caveat, first, welcome back.<br /><br />I don't at all dispute that dogs coming from heartworm endemic areas carry a greater risk of having heartworm, but what I do have a problem with, which I may not have expressed well enough in the post, is that all dogs from such areas shouldn't automatically be precluded from rescue just because there's a chance they might have heartworm. As you say, there are policies and procedures which can be put in place to help prevent spread of the disease.<br /><br />Given that we already have heartworm up here from domestic sources (I know our winters are suppose to kill off heartworm nematodes in mosquitoes but there's still a high prevalence of heartworm in Quebec, which tends to have much colder winters than here in Toronto, so there's something we're overlooking), I don't think it's fair to place so much of the responsibility on Katrina dogs. We've already got the problem so our dogs should be on preventative measures anyway. <br /><br />You're right that rescues should do a proper job of screening. As always, some will do what is required and others will cut corners but that doesn't just apply to heartworm nor to just rescues. Some shelters who point dirty fingers at others do a crap job as well.<br /><br />Of course nothing we do will completely eliminate risk. Every time I go to the shelter I risk bringing back some disease to my dogs at home or picking up some zoonotic disease myself but I'm willing to take that risk (can't speak for my dogs, though). It'll be up to us to balance the risk of increased heartworm infection (whether negligible or significant) with saving animal lives.<br /><br />Whichever direction this debate goes, I especially dislike heartworm being used as a political tool to jab at enemies. The science is difficult enough to figure out without animal welfare agencies polluting it with politics.<br /><br />Anonymous, before calling someone an idiot, you might want to do some more research. You can start here: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_heartworm_prevention.html.<br /><br />Here's an excerpt:<br /><br /><i>In most cases no reaction of any kind occurs when an ivermectin-based heartworm preventive is given to a heartworm positive dog.<br /><br />In fact, giving an ivermectin-based heartworm preventive to an infected dog is the first step in heartworm infection treatment. Ivermectin kills the developing larval worms and clears the circulating microfilariae thus rendering the dog unable to spread its infection and minimizing the number of adult worms to be killed in the second phase of treatment when the adult worms are specifically addressed.</i><br /><br />And no, it's not some fringe, nutjob site.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-6966844699140805412010-02-24T14:50:04.820-05:002010-02-24T14:50:04.820-05:00Terrierman is an idiot.
To the poster above who o...Terrierman is an idiot.<br /><br />To the poster above who orders meds online I hope they are getting the blood test at the vet's at least every two years.<br /><br />To give heartworm meds to a dog with heartworm can be fatal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-46824441495271422822010-02-24T14:47:53.282-05:002010-02-24T14:47:53.282-05:00I dont' know why your mind is so closed to the...I dont' know why your mind is so closed to the obvious - dogs from areas where vaccination/prevention are historically weak, where poverty is endemic, where climates allow for the survival of parasites and bacteria that would die during Canadian winters - can carry parasites, fungi and diseases that have been almost eradicated or are unknown here in Canada.<br /><br />Lepto has always been associated with raccoons, primarily the urine but also the faeces. My former vet was the one who pushed for lepto vaccination in Ontario initially, btw.<br /><br />The real problem is that many pet owners and even ethical breeders believe it won't happen to them. I prefer to vaccinate and use heartworm/parasite prevention such as Revolution, which is not an insecticide but a drug, in order to keep my pets safe but these products can be prohibitively expensive, especially for multiple or large pets.<br /><br />The obvious solution is for these 'rescue' organizations to ensure that dogs get a vet check and treatment, including preventative treatment, for any health problems they may carry.<br /><br />If only we could do the same with human visitors!<br /><br />PS I found out recently that it is illegal to run a private rescue in Ontario, which was interesting, since it is a completely unregulated undertaking. Also unregulated are groomers, trainers, boarders/daycare operators and preparers of commercial pet foods. This really, really bugs me.<br /><br />I guess it's because animals can't talk. Or something.Caveathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10712858257904194590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-16602320436752463472010-02-23T20:52:02.891-05:002010-02-23T20:52:02.891-05:00"It would be inexcusable to promote one's..."It would be inexcusable to promote one's own ego driven political agenda on the backs of abandoned animals."<br /><br />Take out "abandoned" and you're talking about the McGuinty Liberals.Social Mangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14135369986061367480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-82962918421710401432010-02-23T18:52:55.331-05:002010-02-23T18:52:55.331-05:00Penny never would have come into my life if she ha...Penny never would have come into my life if she hadn't been brought up from Louisiana. And our new dog that we adopted after Penny's death is a Louisiana dog too. Java would have been put down in an instant, being a black dog, or worse, adopted for the wrong reasons because of her breed. Thank God BARK brought them both up here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-4779664261988612822010-02-22T17:39:08.275-05:002010-02-22T17:39:08.275-05:00There has been a crapload of mosquitoes in the sum...There has been a crapload of mosquitoes in the summer as a result of all the rain we had and no doubt they played a role in heartworm increase. Along with not enough people not getting heartworm prevention. <br /><br />But I suppose it's so much easier to put the blame on those eeeevil Louisiana dogs, the eeevil Hamilton SPCA and BARK. If it wasn't for these two rescue organizations, I wouldn't have my Matilda. She is the healthiest, happiest dog I have ever had. <br /><br />Look at that sickly dog. How dare she have been brought up here!<br /><br />http://roamingtigress.deviantart.com/art/Big-eyes-big-ears-Matilda-151631261Meaghan Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15769656680379289189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-28300897842696113342010-02-22T16:55:29.416-05:002010-02-22T16:55:29.416-05:00Anon, thanks for the Terrierman link suggestion. ...Anon, thanks for the Terrierman link suggestion. I'm going to post them in the main section.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243247582677457166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-48987840156127703062010-02-22T15:13:42.335-05:002010-02-22T15:13:42.335-05:00I remember up here in the Mississauga/Toronto area...I remember up here in the Mississauga/Toronto area years ago when I had my first two dogs, heartworm was not an issue so we never bothered on meds. Years later when I moved to Montreal and got my two new dogs, I had to get heartworm preventative meds for the first time since Quebec was heartworm territory.<br /><br />Then when I moved back to Mississauga with my current dogs, I was told by my original vet here (who also took care of my previous dogs) that this region has indeed become heartworm territory.<br /><br />So we håd to continue with our heartworm preventative meds. Fortunately, I discovered online pet pharmacies which took some sting out of the costs (I wrote an article about them in my dog blog). Of course, I would rather not go on meds but it's better to be on the safe side. So this means preventative treatment each month from June to November for us.Clint Corahttp://www.pottytrainpuppydog.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-68997655038432027042010-02-22T15:05:31.189-05:002010-02-22T15:05:31.189-05:00GO TO terrierman's daily dose and search to se...GO TO terrierman's daily dose and search to see his take on heart worm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492255858171331632.post-89341913817411347592010-02-22T14:26:38.033-05:002010-02-22T14:26:38.033-05:00With the loss in revenue from annual vaccinations,...With the loss in revenue from annual vaccinations, veterinarians have been searching for another way to get clients into clinics. (Unfortunately annual wellness testing - while crucial - doesn't sell well.)<br /><br />If they can get clients worried about heartworm and the need for annual bloodwork (as opposed to just the drugs) then vets could increase revenues.<br /><br />However, in 2000 the heartworm infection rate for Ontario was just 0.13%. (Slocombe: http://bit.ly/br2Hjb)<br /><br />It's 10 years old, but still - a ten-fold increase makes it 1.3%. Not exactly panic-inducing IMHO.<br /><br />I don't mean to slam vets. The possibilities for, and quality of, veterinary care has drastically improved in recent decades. They run businesses and deserve a good quality of life. <br /><br />But using heartworm this way is misleading. Veterinarians are among the most loved of all professionals, and their representative organizations do them no favours in behaving this way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com