April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, but heartworm disease is something you will hear us educating our clients on year-round. Why? Let’s look at some stats. The Companion Animal Parasite Council gathers test information from veterinarians across the U.S. to determine the rate of infection. The current infection rate in Butte County is 1 in 63 dogs tested compared to a statewide average of 1 in 303. Surrounding counties have an even worse rate of infection; Tehama county is 1 in 40, Plumas county is 1 in 14, and Shasta county is 1 in 50.

Why is Heartworm Disease a big deal? Heartworm disease affects the heart, lungs and pulmonary blood vessels of pets putting immense strain on their cardiovascular system. This can cause severe lung disease, heart failure, organ damage and ultimately death if left untreated. What’s more- unlike intestinal parasites that show up in the feces of our pets and are fairly easy to detect, you will never see that your pet has heartworms as they only live in the blood vessels before maturing and moving into the heart and lungs.

The only way to be sure your pet is not infected is by a simple blood test. While heartworm is more common in dogs, cats are at risk of contracting heartworms as well. The best offense is a good defense when it comes to preventing heartworm infections. Monthly heartworm prevention should be given for the life of your pet. We recommend that your pet starts on monthly heartworm prevention by the time they are 6 months old and having them heartworm tested routinely. Routine testing and monitoring are important- even if they are on heartworm prevention because prevention (just like preventatives available in human medicine) are not 100% effective.

The earlier the infection is caught- the easier it is to treat! Prevention options are available for as little as $6 a month in comparison to the high cost of treating an infection- even at our low-cost clinic. In the unfortunate event that your dog is infected with heartworm, treatment is available, and while the treatment is invasive and costly, recovery outcomes are fairly good but do depend heavily on the age of your dog and how severe the infection is at the time of treatment. There are currently no approved treatments for cats, but supportive care can help manage complications. The Butte Humane Society Clinic is committed to keeping our clients informed and educated to best protect their pets. Has it been over a year since your pet’s last heartworm test? Are they current on heartworm prevention? Talk to your vet about heartworm prevention today!

Warmer weather is here and spring is just around the corner! With so many pet owners wanting to take advantage of the wonderful weather, now is the perfect time to prepare your pets for spending extra time outdoors! One of the biggest complaints we hear from pet owners as the weather starts to warm up is: the fleas are back! We recommend keeping your pet on a year-round flea preventative which helps prevent fleas from ever entering your home. Did you know that flea eggs can hatch up to 6 months after they are laid?

it’s important to make sure your pet is up to date on their flea prevention as warm weather makes them more susceptible to becoming a host for those pesky bugs. Don’t forget about ticks! These little pests are common; latching on to your pet as soon as they have a chance- they also carry Lyme disease. Luckily we have both tick prevention and Lyme vaccines to help protect your pet. Warmer weather also often equals more trips to parks or other pet-friendly venues for dogs.  Make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccines before allowing them to visit areas frequented by other animals helps give them the best chance of being protected from catching a virus from a “carrier” or another sick animal.

Not sure what treatments or vaccines are best for your pet based on your lifestyle? Has it been longer than a year since your pet’s last check-up with a veterinarian? Vet care for your furry family member isn’t one size fits all, contact our clinic for information on the best options for your pet! (530) 343-7917 ext. 202.