Heartworm Prevention in Arizona?

I have been a vet now for 20 years and have lived in the Valley for 13 years.  We moved here to be close to family and enjoy the Arizona desert lifestyle.  One of those desert perks was being able to be outside without the bugs.  No Mosquitoes, few flies, just pleasant.  One of the other things I noticed coming from Texas to Arizona was the fact that Heart worm disease was almost non-existent.  In Texas all pets needed Preventive Heartworm medications otherwise it was a matter of time before they got the debilitating Heartworm Disease.  Heartworms are a real worm about 6-12 inches long living inside your dogs heart.  Ewww....Sick!  Heartworms cause severe damage to your pet if untreated and the treatment for the disease can run thousands of dollars.  In Arizona, the lack of Mosquitoes meant the lack of Heartworm disease and lack of awareness about the disease.  Prevention is easy many pet owners have not been using prevention and veterinarians in Arizona have not been making a strong recommendation to put pets on Heartworm prevention.....including me.  My approach has changed.  The facts have changed.  The last few years we have learned and confirmed more Heartworm cases that originate in Arizona.  We are seeing and feeling the bites of mosquitoes more often.   Our practice has confirmed several cases in just 5 months.  Research on our indigenous population of coyotes reveal 15% are positive carriers for Heartworm.  Heartworm Prevention is simple and 20-30 times less expensive that treatment. Start protecting your pet for Heartworm disease.  Have fun.  Be Safe.  Until next time Brett the Vet and the friendly team at Arizona Animal Hospital

North Scottsdale Coyote Attacks

   

  I wanted to write about a topic that has hit close to home.  There has been a string of coyote attacks in our neighborhood.  We have lost 3 dogs and 2 others have been severely injured. Even more concerning is how and why these attacks have occurred.  In all cases, a pack of 3-5 coyotes have jumped the fence of the homeowners property to get to the pet.  In 2 of these instances the pet owner was in the back yard.  The coyotes were unafraid of the people when attempts to ward them off were made and in one instance they stood down an owners attempt to scare them off.  This owner and her young daughter were placed at risk.

     Our pets and our children are generally considered safe in our fenced in back yards.  This new coyote behavior changes how a community thinks and lives.  Discussions with our Arizona Gish and Game experts who visited our neighborhood have seen this behavior in coyotes in other neighborhoods and know it is a result of people feeding the wildlife.  When fed, the coyotes in the area see all other dogs as competition and territorial aggression behavior sets in.  They kill pets because we feed them.  The coyotes are subsequently killed by people/officials as a means to protect the public.  

    I want to make a plea to people living out here on the edge where community meets nature.  Please don't feed the wildlife.  Please don't leave food out for them.  They have plenty to eat.  Our pets and our children and our wildlife are all at risk.  Respectfully to all who live in our community.

Brett the Vet