Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm infection and prevention in dogs in Tennessee's Cumberland
By Cappiello, Briana et al.·Published in The Journal of parasitology·2023·Walworth Animal Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: CANINE HEARTWORM INFECTION AND PROPHYLAXIS USE AMONG PET CARETAKERS FROM THE CUMBERLAND GAP REGION OF TENNESSEE, USA.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 2.3% of pet dogs in the Cumberland Gap Region of Tennessee tested positive for heartworm infection, a serious condition caused by a parasite. Alarmingly, about 42% of the dogs were not receiving heartworm prevention medication. The research showed that pet owners who were aware of heartworm risks and had visited a veterinarian in the past year were more likely to use preventive treatments. This highlights the need for pet owners to stay informed about heartworm disease and ensure their dogs are on a regular prevention plan to keep them safe.
People also search for: dog heartworm prevention · signs of heartworm in dogs · heartworm treatment for dogs
Abstract
The prevalence of infection with canine heartworm (CHW), Dirofilaria immitis, continues to increase across the United States, regardless of the availability of effective and affordable prophylactic products. Current reports of CHW prevalence as estimated by the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) are thought to under-represent the true magnitude of the issue because pet dogs that do not receive regular veterinary care are often excluded. This study estimated the prevalence of CHW in pet dogs and associated prophylaxis use in pet dogs in the Cumberland Gap Region with a combined doorstep diagnostic testing approach and caretaker survey. Dogs tested (n = 258) during the summers of 2018 and 2019 revealed a 2.3% (6/258) prevalence in the pet dog population with 33% (2/6) being microfilaremic. Questionnaire data from caretaker interviews revealed that 41.8% (108/258) of the dogs were not receiving CHW prophylaxis. Significant predictors of CHW prophylaxis use identified through logistic regression included pet caretaker awareness of CHW as an important health issue and the use of veterinary services in the year preceding participation in the survey. These results underscore the importance of veterinary-mediated client interaction to create risk awareness of CHW disease and association with prophylaxis compliance.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37339078/