The aim of an holistic approach to parasite control is to ensure our pets are protected against any parasites or diseases they are likely to come into contact with that may prove detrimental to their health, whilst minimising the chemical load your pet has to deal with.
Heartworm can be deadly if undetected. And many Australian pets are at risk.Â
It is difficult to obtain data on heartworm infection rates, but infection rates are higher in warm, coastal areas where mosquitoes proliferate. Queensland has the highest rates of infection within Australia, especially the northern areas. Â The risk of a dog contracting heartworm infection is directly related to geographical location. So if you live in a warm, humid, coastal area, with temperatures over 18C most of the year, and lots of mosquitoes, it is likely that your pet will be exposed to heartworm at some stage in their life. Â On the Sunshine Coast with our climate and mosquito population, this means that our pets are potentially at risk of contracting heartworm year-round – even pets who spend most of their days indoors!
How do pets get heartworm? Heartworm larvae, called microfilaria, live in the blood of an infected dog or other host (eg a fox) who is hosting both a male and female heartworm. They make babies = larvae. The larvae are sucked up by feeding mosquitoes, develop inside the mosquito, and can then be transmitted to your dog through a mosquito bite. Rarely, cats can also become infected.
Wildlife such as foxes can act as a reservoir for infection, ensuring heartworm disease remains endemic in some areas. Â
Heartworm preventatives are essentially insecticides that circulate in your pet’s blood, preventing heartworm larvae from developing into adult worms.  In a location such as the Sunshine Coast, or other high-risk mosquito-infested areas, the use of pharmaceutical heartworm preventatives is well justified as they are the only proven method of prevention.
Reliance on chemical preventatives for parasite control can pose a risk to your animal’s health, however, and this risk is increased if your animal has any chronic debilitating disease, especially one that is likely to be terminal. Â
When choosing safe chemical preventatives for your pet a number of decisions will need to be made. If you need specific guidance we recommend booking a nurse consult for tailored advice.
Pharmaceutical heartworm preventatives are the most effective form of protection currently available. Over the years we have found Milbemax, Interceptor and Sentinel to all have excellent safety profiles. The annual heartworm injection also seems to be low-risk in most pets. And if you need a solution that incorporates tick prevention, consider monthly Credelio Plus chews for dogs.
