Problem: Heartworm infection has been reported in dogs in all 50 states. Of the dogs tested in 2001, at least 240,000 were positive for heartworms. Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworm larvae migrate through the tissues and then as adults, are found in the heart and lungs. Heartworms may grow to up to 12 inches in length and may cause heart disease and even death. Fortunately, this dangerous disease is 100% preventable.

Causes: A June 2001 Gallup study found that about half the dogs in the U.S. were given a heartworm preventive. Of the dogs that were on prevention, the average number of monthly doses administered was half the number recommended by veterinarians.

1. Key Point: Fifty-five percent of dog owning households were on some form of heartworm preventive, down from a high of 66% in 1998

2. 151.5 million heartworm preventive doses were dispensed (prescribed) by veterinarians in 2001

3. Most veterinarians recommend year round prevention.

4. Of the dogs on prevention, the average doses dispensed was 5.4 per year

5. There is an average compliance gap of 5 months.

In January 2002, Merial (the makers of HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) and HEARTGARD® (ivermectin) for Cats) partnered with the American Heartworm Society to survey veterinary clinics and determine the incidence of heartworm infection by state and county in the U.S. (*Incidence = number of new cases occurring during a certain time.)

In the survey, 18,000 veterinary clinics reported 244,000 positive heartworm tests in dogs and 3,095 in cats in 2001. Over 27 million dogs in the U.S. are not on a heartworm preventive and may not have been tested. Therefore, the incidence in the U.S. is likely much higher than indicated.

The states with the highest number of positive tests were as follows:

Top 10 Reporting

Heartworm States

 

# of Positive Dogs

# of Positive Cats % of Clinics Reporting Per State
1. Texas 38,535 362 64%
2. Florida 29,749 743 78%
3. Louisiana 18,700 158 74%
4. North Carolina 17,338 200 79%
5. Georgia 13,896 133 64%
6. Mississippi 11,522 107 73%
7. Tennessee 10,324 39 92%
8. South Carolina 9,387 131 79%
9. Alabama 9,308 95 83%
10. Indiana 8,348 107 73%

Solution: Veterinarians are the best source for information and heartworm prevention. Heartworm disease is 100% preventable. Dog and cat owners should contact their veterinarian and ask about preventives such as HEARTGARD® Plus; the #1 recommended heartworm preventive in a Real Beef Chewable dogs love. For 100% prevention of heartworm in cats, HEARTGARD® for Cats is also available from veterinarians.

Back to: The Facts on Heartworm Prevention

Information provided by the American Heartworm Society and sponsored by Merial, maker of HEARTGARD® (ivermectin) brand products.

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