Animals Getting Less Health Care in Poor Economy

The poor economy is having a negative influence on the health care of animals. Veterinarians and animal shelters have reported an increase in illnesses, especially heartworm, along with a decrease in veterinary visits and preventive treatments.

“Before working at this practice, I worked at a much busier clinic," said T.J. Sharma, doctor of veterinary medicine and Ph.D.

"At that time, I only saw one or two cases of heartworm. Since the decline in the economy, I am seeing them much more frequently,” said Sharma, owner of Blue Cross Animal Hospital. “I have already treated 12 dogs this year.”

Heartworms are dangerous parasites that can be potentially fatal to animals. It only takes a single bite from a mosquito to infect a dog.

“When a mosquito carries heartworm larvae, they are microscopic,” he said. “After a dog is infected, the larvae start reproducing and can grow up to 10 inches.”

The adult heartworms spread throughout the dog’s heart, lungs and blood vessels and cause an array of health problems.

Preventive measures are the only way to block heartworms from reaching adulthood, Sharma said. There are a variety of monthly preventatives, ranging from $30-$50 for six months.

“There are three main preventatives that I recommend for my patients,” he said. “Picking the right one is dependent on the specific needs of the dog.”

Because of the decline in the economy, many dog owners feel that they don’t have the money to invest in their animals. However, preventatives are less costly than treating a dog that has been infected with heartworms, Sharma said.

“It’s a huge problem,” he said. “Even with one infected dog in an area, it’s dangerous. When there are fewer dogs with defense, more mosquitoes are carrying the parasites, and dogs are becoming infected more rapidly.”

To complicate the problem, Immiticide, the only FDA-approved treatment for heartworm in dogs, is temporarily unavailable. A recent letter from the drug’s manufacturer, Merial, explained the importance of conserving current supplies of the treatment and said the maker is experiencing challenges in manufacturing the drug.

While the company stated that it is trying to resolve the problem, it was vague on the details and unsure when the treatment will be back on the market.

Royal Oak shelter proactive in health care

The takes many steps in keeping animals healthy. Upon arriving at the shelter, animals undergo a medical exam, which includes a test for heartworm and preventive treatments for parasites.

“Until this year, I don’t think we’ve had any dogs come to the shelter with heartworms,” said Lisa Yaeck, a shelter staffer. “This year, we have had three dogs treated for the parasite. One of our adoptable dogs, LaFayette, came in as a stray with heartworms.”

With the help of the shelter, LaFayette has received extensive treatment to kill the heartworms.

“We have spent nearly $650 on LaFayette’s heartworm treatments,” said Julie Tirony, a shelter volunteer. “I should also point out that his treatments are done at a discounted rate for the shelter.”

The cost of heartworm treatment depends on many variables. Large dogs require more medicine; thus, their treatment is more expensive. Tirony said veterinarians usually charge about $1,000 to treat a dog of a comparable size (60-75 pounds) to LaFayette.

The treatment cost does not include exams, X-rays and any complications the dog may experience such as signs of fever, heavy or fast breathing, and coughing, which may necessitate a visit to an emergency vet center.

In most cases, infected dogs show no symptoms. Dogs with a serious case of heartworm may seem tired, experience coughing and lack tolerance for heavy exercise.

“Even if a dog doesn’t show any signs of having heartworm, they (the parasites) are harming the dog’s internal organs,” said Yaeck. “After a dog has been infected, there are no guarantees of a full recovery, even with treatment. Heartworm patients can have a lot of complications.” It's best to discuss ongoing care, continuing symptoms, and quality of life issues with with your vet before beginning any treatment.

Many organizations and veterinarians offer assistance with animal health care. Most vets offer payment plan options to families experiencing financial difficulties. Preventive care can cost a mere $10 per month — but allowing a dog to go unprotected can result in an enormous vet bill.  

“I have done what I can in offering discounted rates during these tough times," Sharma said.

"I believe that we have to work as a team to keep our animals healthy,” he said. “Pet owners and vets have to work together to protect the animal community.”