It is time for your pet’s Blood Parasite Test! What does this test screen for? Your pet’s annual blood parasite test screens for four diseases carried by parasites: Heartworm, Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. Our goal is to provide your canine family member with the best defense and prevention program to prevent these diseases . Heartworm is transmitted after a bite from an infected mosquito. The immature heartworm are injected during a bite and develop into worms that live in the heart and vessels of the dog. While heartworm is both treatable and preventable, it can be lethal and likely will not show clinical signs in the early stages. Screening annually allows us to detect early stages of disease and begin treatment when it best benefits your pet. Monthly preventative medication kills heartworm larvae and prevents the onset of disease. There is a rise in exposure risk to ticks in the US and Canada, meaning we need to be on the lookout for Tick Bourne Diseases. Lyme Disease is caused by the bacteria, Borrelia Burgdoferi, which is carried by specific species of ticks. Lyme disease initially causes painful joints and can progress to kidney failure. Prevention and early detection (by annual testing) are the two best ways of preventing the disease from affecting your pets. Anaplasmosis and Ehrilichiosis are severe diseases that are transmitted by ticks. Your dog’s annual blood parasite test detects antibodies (immune response protein) to these diseases which can give us an indication on our patient’s exposure to ticks and infectious agents. Dogs vacationing at cottages and along waterways, running through tall grass, exploring ravines or wooded areas and dogs travelling to the U.S have increased tick exposure. Additional preventative medications and vaccination are recommended for additional protection. Prevention is not 100% effective therefore we test your dog every year as per the guidelines of the Canadian Parasite Expert Panel.
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Our creative team at the Animal Hospital of River Oaks take pride in providing educational information as well as keeping our River Oaks's Families well informed in up-coming events happening at the hospital! Archives
June 2020
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