Do you know about the Changes in Heartworm Testing?
Is your dog tested annually for heartworm disease? If so, do you know if your veterinarian is using the antigen test, the microfilaria test, or both?
Antigen testing alone produces ever-increasing numbers of false negative results (the test result is negative even though the dog has heartworm disease).
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) and the American Heartworm Society (AHS) recently revised their recommendations regarding annual heartworm testing. They now recommend that microfilaria testing along with antigen testing be performed. Combined, these two tests reduce the possibility of missing a heartworm-positive dog.
While neither the heartworm antigen nor microfilaria tests are perfect, using the two in combination is currently thought to be the most reliable way to screen dogs for heartworm disease. Both are simple to perform, and all that is required is a small blood sample.
Annual heartworm screening is recommended for all dogs, even those receiving preventive medication. Lapses in administering the medication as scheduled and the existence of resistant heartworms are the basis for this recommendation.
Information Adapted from “Spot Speaks” by Nancy Kay, DVM. For the whole article please go to: