Heartworm is showing up in Roseburg

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Story Published: Jun 15, 2007 at 3:59 PM PST

By Warren Wells

Heartworm disease is a real problem for dogs and sometimes cats and is fatal if not treated.

Doctor Blair Bailey's practice hasn't seen many cases of the heartworm locally, until recently.

Then three dogs came up positive for the heartworm in two weeks at the Bailey clinic, a huge increase from, MAYBE, one a year.

'We've recently noticed an increase in heartworm in our area, it's very few cases, and possibly not too significant, but we are concerned and we're trying to get the word out to recommend to people that they have their animals put on heartworm preventative medication", Bailey said.

To determine if your pet has heartworm, a simple blood test is needed because most animals don't show symptoms.

Dogs don't get heartworm from an infected dog directly, but by the same way the West Nile virus is spread.

"It always requires mosquitos, and it takes six months for a dog to develop heartworms to a mature stage, and the worm actually lives in the heart."

Dr. Bailey says a dog can live a long time with heartworm without symptoms, but eventually it'll kill the dog.

The only way to confirm heartworm is with a blood test that must be asked for, it isn't screened in a regular blood test.

Bailey also said the southern Oregon areas have much more heartworm than around Roseburg and northward, but that may be changing.

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