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de la Houssaye Animal Hospital
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Lionel L. de la Houssaye, Jr.
de la Houssaye Animal Hospital
33 Rienzi Drive
Thibodaux, LA
3359 West Main, Gray, LA

lldjr@charter.net
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Canine Heartworm Disease Facts
Heartworm disease is a serious and often fatal disease of dogs. It can be treated rather successfully if caught in time but most importantly, It can be prevented very easily! The de la Houssaye Animal Hospital recommends Triheart once a month preventative. This product is effective and guaranteed by the company if certain protocols are followed.
Tiny immature heartworms are transmitted in a mosquito bite. The parasite moves into the tissues of the dog only to migrate to the dogs heart. As the worms migrate inside the heart, they reproduce leading to a larger worm burden in the heart. Mosquitos that now bite this infected dog can transmit heartworms to the next dog it bites. It is a viscious cycle.
If this disease is not treated in a timely manner following infection, it can lead to multiple systemic problems followed by congestive heart failure and death.
The treatment has become somewhat routine today but it is not always without complications.The de la Houssaye Animal Hospital advocates only the newest and most effective medication.The name of the drug is Immiticide. A dog that is clinically normal with normal preliminary lab work before treatment can usually be successfully treated in approx. 6-8 weeks as long as there are no unexpected complications.
The de la Houssaye Animal Hospital advocates prevention of heartworms!
Feline Heartworms
Cats have become increasingly diagnosed with heartworms. This disease is still primarily a canine disease but if prevention with cats is not started in a timely manner, it could become just as serious a disease.
Cats don't always get as sick as dogs do, but if they do, treatment can often be difficult if not deadly in certain situations.
Detection of heartworms in cats has improved tremendously over the last few years.The de la Houssaye Animal Hospital now has an "in house" test for detection of feline heartworm disease. Once detected, treatment can be symptomatic at best at times. There is as of yet, no approved drug to treat cats for heartworms. The treament for dogs is considered off label use and not approved if used with cats. Keeping this in mind, it is easier to prevent this disease with a new approved once a month preventative from Heartgard.
The de la Houssaye Animal Hospital recommends Heartgard for cats.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS MEANT TO SERVE AS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE DE LA HOUSSAYE ANIMAL HOSPITAL AND CAN VARY WITH OTHER INDIVIDUAL VETERINARY HOSPITALS. IT IS NOT MEANT TO SERVE AS A MEANS OF DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSING A SPECIFIC CONDITION.
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