AHS announces new staff training course

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The American Heartworm Society (AHS) announced the launch of “Heartworms Unraveled,” a 5 video-based training series that will provide clinical staff members comprehensive education on heartworm biology, heartworm life cycle, and epidemiology.

“We see clinical training that equips veterinary technicians and other staff members to confidently speak with clients about the importance of heartworm management as one of our top priorities,” said Jenni Rizzo, DVM, AHS president, in an organizational release.¹

“Heartworm disease is a serious and complex disease in dogs and cats, and veterinary staff members play an invaluable role in educating clients about it. Not only do staff members interact with virtually every client in the practice, but as committed pet owners themselves, they have the passion—and the credibility—to talk about heartworm disease in ways that resonate with pet owners,” she continued.

The series will also offer attendees the chance to learn about heartworm testing, prevention, treatment, and feline heartworm disease. According to the release, the video series will include practitioners and specialists from the AHS board of directors and Paola Dominguez-Lopez, CVT, an AHS board member who provides education tips at the end of the training module.

According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), its 2024 forecast has found that very few regions are expected to have a lower-than-average prevalence of heartworm in 2024. Because of this, it is crucial for veterinary teams to be able to educate clients on how the changes in local environments can increase the risk of their pets getting infected with heartworm.² Year-round preventative medicine is currently the best way to provide internal and external parasite control. CAPC also recommends annual testing to monitor compliance and preventive efficacy.

Each training module will last between 24 to 45 minutes and can be accessed by veterinarians and staff members once registered for the course. The courses are free of charge for professionals, but AHS is asking professionals that can afford to donate to defray program costs.

References

1. American Heartworm Society Offers New Staff Training Course. News release. American Heartworm Society. July 17, 2024. Accessed July 17, 2024.
2. 2024 Annual Pet Parasite Forecasts. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://capcvet.org/articles/2024-annual-pet-parasite-forecasts/