The dvm360 heartworm prevention toolkit

The latest research indicates that the number of dogs diagnosed with heartworm disease in the United States has risen by 21 percent in recent years. The higher incidence rate, combined with climate and environmental changes and the relocation of heartworm-infected dogs means that prevention strategies are more important than ever. 

We curated a selection of articles, tips, tools and resources suitable for the entire veterinary team to help you educate pet owners-of both dogs and cats-on the importance of year-round heartworm prevention. Consider it your go-to package for the year as you work to keep pets safe, healthy and heartworm-free. 

The latest

> Do your heartworm protocols need an update? Consider this your reminder postcard. 

> Heartworm prevention: Don't take 'no' for an answer

> Longer days, more vegetation. Spring is coming: Are you ready for parasite season?

Protecting cats: Video tools

> An update on heartworm disease and HARD in cats

Special report: Relocated dogs

> An algorithm from the AHS to minimize heartworm transmission in relocated dogs

Better client communication

> Counter costs concerns with heartworm treatment

> 3 simple strategies to talk heartworms

> When the pet owner thinks heartworms are #FakeNews

> How to handle concerns about the price of heartworm prevention

Client handout

> 'Is heartworm prevention worth it?'

PLUS:

Stop slacking on these top 5 heartworm prevention recommendations

More tools...

> How to stop breeding resistant heartworms

> Arm yourself against mosquito vectors

> Suspicious of heartworm preventive resistance? Here's how to put it to the test.

> The questionable zero mosquito factor (because even areas with fewer mosquitoes can be hotbeds of heartworm infection)

Better recommendations

> Heartworm prevention: "Oops! I missed a dose!"

> The reminder quagmire: Why and how not to let clients skip a dose again

> Why aren't you talking about feline heartworms?! 

> Answers to 3 common price questions about parasite preventives 

Better client compliance

> Handout: Have a heart! How to protect your pet from heartworms

> Handout: 4 reasons why your dog needs a yearly heartworm test

> Heartworm disease: Do your clients understand the risk?

> 7 fun (and not so fun) facts about mosquitoes

Bonus!!!

Dog in a box: Battle boredom with comfortable quiet time

> Here's how to help dogs (and their owners) survive confinement during treatment for heartworm disease

Articles

> Q&A: What if my client won't agree to CAPC-based treatment of infection?

> Symbiosis in parasitology: Heartworm recommendations updated

> Feline heartworm disease: Why you should be screening for it

Take-action tips

> Getting exam room questions right

> Idea exchange: Smart reminders for heartworm prevention

Posts and tweets

Halt feline heartworms with these tips for clients

Sample client education script

Prep your team members to discuss heartworm disease and stress the importance of preventives with this script and role-play exercise.

> Communicating protocols to unhappy cilents

> Sample script: Getting to the heart of the conversation

Team meeting tool

Use these tips to teach your veterinary team to talk about the latest heartworm news with pet owners.

Clinic poster

Use this informational poster to remind clients about the cost of prevention over treatment.

> Change the conversation about heartworm prevention

Ready-to-use handouts

Take advantage of these handouts to reinforce your message about heartworm disease. Just click, print and hand to pet owners.

> The heartworm life cycle

> Parasite prevention for the indoor-only cat

> How heartworm disease hurts cats

> Busted! 11 myths about feline heartworm disease

> Don't gamble with heartworm disease

Videos

> Heartworm disease in cats: A video update

> Heartworm's little friend: How eliminating Wolbachia affects treatment outcome

> Heartworm negative? Are you sure?

> Checking for heartworm disease

More articles and tips

> An argument for year-round heartworm prevention in dogs

> CAPC changes heartworm guidelines due to evidence of resistance

> Tough talk: Have heartfelt heartworm discussions

> Strategy: Getting clients on board with feline heartworm preventive

> Spread heartworm awareness with client games

More from the dvm360 social media marketing kit for heartworm disease

Use these pre-written Facebook posts and tweets to educate your clients about heartworm disease and the importance of year-round prevention. (That's right. It's social media outreach made easy!)

Talk back

Does your team do a great job discussing the importance of heartworm prevention with pet owners? We'd love to share your winning strategies with your colleagues. Did you try one of these tools? We'd love to know what your experience was like. Any other feedback? Let us know.