Idiopathic Issues

Dirofilaria immitis Differences in Cats

Posted by Flavia Vaduva on April 22, 2019 at 12:42 PM

In your vet school, have you heard the phrase, “cats are not small dogs?” This is a great statement to remember because they are very different for a variety of reasons including but not limited to physiology, behavior, disease processes and drug metabolism.

Topics: Dirofilaria immitis

"Slow-Kill" Heartworm Treatment: Myths and Misconceptions

Posted by Cathy Barnette on April 15, 2019 at 8:11 AM

In a perfect world, every dog with heartworms would be treated according to the American Heartworm Society’s recommended protocol: doxycycline and a macrocyclic lactone, followed by three injections of melarsomine (adulticide).

Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and the cost of heartworm treatment leads many clients to consider alternatives.

False Negative Heartworm Tests and Heat Pretreatment: Info for Vet Grads

Posted by Cathy Barnette on April 8, 2019 at 9:00 AM

As a new grad, you may occasionally run across reports of heartworm infections that are resistant (or thought to be resistant) to heartworm prevention. Heartworm resistance became a hot topic in the early 2000s, when several cases were discovered.

Topics: Heartworm