Blood Parasite Profile
(formerly known as Heartworm Test)
A Blood Parasite Profile is recommended for all dogs one year of age and older. Formerly known as a Heartworm test, this test is now called a Blood Parasite Profile because it checks not only for Heartworm disease, but also for Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases whose symptoms include swollen joints, loss of appetite, fever and lethargy, among other things. You can help prevent these diseases by keeping your dog on year-round Heartworm preventative and applying a topical flea and tick preventative such as Frontline or K-9 Advantix. Remeber: No prevention is 100% effective. Annual testing is recommended.
Heartworm Disease in Dogs
Heartworms are parasites that invade a pet's circulatory system and heart. The adult heartworms produce offspring called microfilariae, which circulate in the infected pet's blood. Mosquitoes feed on an infected pet, serve as a host while the microfilariae mature for approximately two weeks, then transfer infective heartworm larvae when they bite healthy pets.
These heartworm larvae migrate through the pet's tissues and circulatory system and reach the heart in five to six months, where they arrive as small worms about two inches in length. Once they are in the heart, the adult worms reproduce and grow. They may reach a length of twelve or more inches and may stay in the pet's heart for several years. In a severe infestation, a dog's heart may contain up to 300 worms.
Highly preventive medications are available for dogs and cats that are not infected and for pets that have been treated successfully for heartworms in the past. A blood test is needed before prescribing medication. As a safeguard, your veterinarian may recommend either annual testing or biannual testing if heartworm preventative is given year round.
Today more than 95 percent of dogs with heartworm disease are treated successfully. Most are cured by medications, but rare cases require surgery. In any case, early detection and ongoing prevention protect against needless suffering.
