• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Tough talk: Have heartfelt heartworm discussions

May 1, 2010

Stop heartworm infection before it starts by giving clients the facts.

With the abundance of effective heartworm preventives and tests, it's heartbreaking when you diagnose a pet with heartworm infection. Use these four steps to educate clients and safeguard their pets' health.

1. Teach clients about the importance of testing. When a client asks why you test for heartworms when the pet already takes preventives, use this script: "Even though today's preventive medications are effective, pets are only protected if we treat them without interruption. A late or missed dose can open the window for infection. Heartworm testing is the only way to ensure we catch infection early."

Advertisement

2. Remind clients that testing helps you safeguard their pet's health. If a pet does test positive for heartworm, a doctor will evaluate to determine the severity of the infection and the best treatment plan. Let clients know that killing immature and adult heartworms with medication can be risky, so their pet will need careful monitoring by the veterinary team. And remind them that even well-intentioned pet owners may forget doses, administer them incorrectly, or fail to notice when a pet doesn't swallow a pill.

3. Explain that the heartworm tests available today are more sophisticated than past tests. In fact, today's advanced heartworm tests might be able to detect the presence of just one heartworm. This important type of early detection allows you to provide treatment before serious damage occurs to the heart and lungs.

4. Educate clients to recognize the signs of heartworms, especially in cats. For example, symptoms of feline heartworm infection include asthma-like symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing.

Related Content:

BusinessParasitologyClient Relations & Marketing
VHMA announces latest class of CVPMs
VHMA announces latest class of CVPMs
New online course for veterinary business at UC Davis
New online course for veterinary business at UC Davis
Expert shares pet care tips for springtime
Expert shares pet care tips for springtime

Advertisement

Latest News

CE: Why tapeworms matter

Freshpet and Petco partner launch fresh pet food subscription

AAHA Con heads to San Diego

VHMA announces latest class of CVPMs

View More Latest News
Advertisement