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Morro Bay Vet Clinic Updates
1. Heartworm Disease: Recent reports have found a dramatic increase in heartworm disease in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties (See the illustration below). On the Central Coast, the mosquito that transmits heartworm is definitely present, and between 5-20% of our dog population is believed to be infected with heartworm. To a lesser extent, indoor/outdoor cats are also infected. Heartworm disease can be fatal to your dogs and cats, but is nearly 100% preventable by using very safe monthly heartworm preventatives. If your dog does contract heartworm disease, the treatment is dangerous, expensive, and presently in very short supply. For cats, there is presently no effective and safe treatment if they do become infected. Because of the increased risk of heartworm in our area, we are now recommending that all dogs and all indoor/outdoor cats be placed on a monthly heartworm preventative. If your dog is over 7 months of age and is not presently on a heartworm preventative, then a simple and inexpensive heartworm test must first be done before starting the preventative. This test is not required for cats. Because rare heartworm infections are now even being found in some dogs on heartworm preventative, a yearly heartworm test is required. This test is not required for cats. See below for our current heartworm preventative recommendations.
2. Flea, Tick, Heartworm, and Intestinal Parasite Preventatives:
A. For Fleas, Heartworms, and Intestinal Parasites in Dogs- If you prefer an oral tablet, we recommend Trifexis. This is given monthly to dogs over 8 weeks of age, and the price is $120 for a 6 month supply. If you prefer a topical liquid, we recommend Advantage Multi For Dogs. This is applied monthly to dogs over 7 weeks of age, and the price is $120 for an 6 month supply.
B. For Fleas, Heartworms, and Intestinal Parasites for Indoor/Outdoor Cats- We recommend Advantage Multi For Cats. This is a topical liquid that is applied monthly to cats over 9 weeks of age, and the price is $105 for an 6 month supply.
C. For Fleas for Indoor-Only Cats- If you prefer a tablet, we recommend Comfortis. This is given monthly to cats over 14 weeks of age, and the price is $95 for a 6 month supply. If you prefer a topical liquid, we recommend Cheristin. This is applied monthly to cats over 8 weeks of age and weighing more than 1.8#, and the cost is $20 per tube.
D. For Ticks in Dogs- If your dog has exposure to ticks, we recommend the chewable tablet NexGard which controls both ticks and fleas. This is given orally monthly and the cost is $65 for a 4 month supply. Because this tablet does not control heartworms or intestinal parasites, the chewable tablet Iverhart Max should also be given monthly. The cost for this is $33-44 depending on the weight of your dog for a 6 month supply.
- We have priced all of the above parasite preventatives to be no more expensive than what you have paid in the past for the combination of flea control and annual dewormings. We have also priced all products to be less expensive than the online pharmacies so there is no need to buy them elsewhere. All products except Cheristin are prescription only, so your pets need to have had a physical exam within a year to purchase these.
3. Canine Leptospirosis- Multiple cases of leptospirosis have been diagnosed in Cambria recently and nationwide infections are on the rise. Leptospirosis can be a life threatening bacterial disease which can cause severe kidney and/or liver disease as well as damage other organs. Infected dogs can also transmit the disease to people. Dogs obtain the infection from exposure to the urine of infected wild animals such as skunks, opossums, raccoons, farm animals, and rodents. Because of the danger of this disease, we are now recommending that all dogs over 8 weeks of age that visit ranchlands, forests, fields, hiking trails, or even have wild animal or rodent exposure at home, be vaccinated for leptospirosis. For dogs that have never had this vaccination before, it is a series of two injections 3-4 weeks apart followed by yearly boosters. As long as your pet is healthy, we are not requiring a physical exam in order to give these vaccines but do call for an appointment. To learn more about leptospirosis, click here.
This is a dog's heart with a severe heartworm infection:
