Parasitology

It is hard to comprehend why year-round heartworm control is such a difficult idea to sell to practitioners or clients.

Filarial nematode infection of dogs and cats – Dirofilaria immitis – adults (female worms up to 30 cm in length) live in pulmonary arteries causing respiratory, cardiac, and in some cases, renal disease.

These tick-borne diseases of dogs and cats cause vasculitis leading to multisystemic dysfunction often characterized by thrombocytopenia and hyperglobulinemia.

There are a number of diseases that dogs and cats acquire from wildlife. Some are acquired through vectors while some are acquired by ingestion.

With zoonotic disease on the risk, just over a third of DVMs suspect it has struck close to home.

Thanks to the development of certain broad-spectrum parasiticides, practitioners can now treat tapeworms on a monthly basis, sparing clients the nasty surprise of discovering segments on their dogs.

Scope out this sample form.

Use this form to educate clients about your wellness schedule for dogs.

How can I convince clients to purchase parasite products from our practice?

Educate clients about the health risks parasites pose with this client education handout.

The number of heartworm cases continues to climb in parts of the United States.

The CAPC provides its complete practice protocols on line free of charge.

Test your knowledge of ticks and tick-borne diseases with this short quiz.

Q. Why should I test for heartworm infection in cats?

We keep fecal containers marked with prepaid labels on hand.

To encourage clients to purchase heartworm tests and preventives, we placed posters throughout the clinic that list the price of a heartworm test, the price range of heartworm preventives, and the price of heartworm treatment if a pet becomes infected.

Staff meetings can be educational and fun if presented as a game show.

Why do fleas sometimes persist in an environment even when you think you and your client are doing everything right?

A convenient way to dispense single tubes of flea preventives is to separate the foil packets and insert them into paper pill envelopes.

More frequent and better fecal tests and reminders help clients keep pets parasite free.

Handy reference charts

Using preprinted paper and animal stickers, we make eye-catching scrapbook pages featuring our flea control and heartworm preventive products.

Use this form to gather a thorough history about flea control.

To encourage clients to purchase heartworm tests and preventives, we placed posters throughout the clinic that list the price of a heartworm test, the price range of heartworm preventives, and the price of heartworm treatment if a pet becomes infected.

Researchers have verified a benefit of sleep.

Improve client compliance with these hooks.

Stillwater, Okla. -- The Oklahoma State University Foundation received a $225,000 grant from Novartis Animal Health for laboratory renovations and start-up costs for the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology.

Feline heartworm is more prevalent than once believed, and cats likely face more damage from juvenile heartworms than from adult worms. Within two to three months, juvenile worms can cause serious pulmonary disease in cats, known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). Compounding this dangerous threat is the fact that neither antibody nor antigen tests can accurately detect HARD.

Fleas and ticks are still a threat in cold winter months, so be sure your clients are informed.

Stress the importance of year-round protection.