Changing The Approach To Canine Heartworm Protection

(NAPSI)-Heartworm is a life-threatening canine parasite transmitted by mosquitoes; it affects dogs in all 50 states. While research shows that America's dog owners understand the importance of protecting their pets from this deadly disease, remembering to administer traditional heartworm medications remains a serious problem for dog owners and veterinarians.

"Lot's of people forget to give the monthly heartworm pill, including myself," said Dr. Doug Wojcik, a veterinarian from Liverpool, New York.

A recent survey indicated that one in three dog owners miss the monthly heartworm dose by more than a month, and more than 80 percent fail to give it to their dogs on the date it's due. Furthermore, 20 percent of those who missed a monthly dose eventually stopped giving the heartworm preventative altogether.

Fortunately, dog owners now have a superior weapon in their fight against canine heartworm disease. ProHeart 6, which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2001, is the first major advancement in heartworm prevention and provides six months of continuous protection in a single dose.

"Monthly heartworm products can only be effective when they are administered on time. Missed doses seriously compromise the ability of the products to control heartworm," explains Steve Hoffman, marketing manager for Fort Dodge Animal Health. "ProHeart 6 virtually eliminates concerns about clients administering heartworm preventatives as recommended. Importantly, ProHeart 6 places control of this potentially fatal disease where it belongs, with the veterinarian."

"With the monthly pill, people either forget to give it, or don't come in for their refill," said veterinarian Sonya Bankston, of Baton Rouge, La. "ProHeart 6 eliminates those compliance problems."

ProHeart 6 is administered two times a year by a veterinarian, which greatly improves the efficacy, accuracy and safety of the dose. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the average dog is already taken to the vet 1.8 times a year, for wellness checkups, grooming, boarding, dental work and other procedures.

"Clearly, ProHeart 6 represents the future direction of heartworm protection," says Hoffman. "The veterinarian is in control, and protection is no longer dependent upon owners remembering to give the medication every month."

Both veterinarians and dog owners have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic about this new professional approach to protecting dogs against heartworm.

"Our clients appreciate the fact that heartworm can be taken care of in the veterinarian's office, instead of trying to remember the monthly dose," reports Duane Schnittker, D.V.M., of Brentwood, Calif. "ProHeart 6 relieves the client of one more thing to remember in their busy lives."

ProHeart 6 (moxidectin) has been proven safe and effective in multiple U.S. field trials. It has been extensively tested in target animal safety studies in a wide variety of adult dogs, including heartworm-positive dogs and collies with known sensitivity to ivermectin.

ProHeart 6 is generally well tolerated. Use with caution in sick, debilitated or underweight animals. A small percentage of dogs showed mild, transient swelling or itching at the injection site. Though rare, digestive, neurological or hypersensitivity reactions may occur.

For more information, including a copy of the product labeling, dog owners should contact their veterinarians or call 1-800-772-5040.

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