With one little bite, an infected mosquito can transmit potentially fatal heartworm disease to your favorite patient. You know the risks of an infection. We know them, too. But what about the clients? What do they know about the risks of heartworm disease? Do they know the signs and symptoms? And do they know how truly important prevention is?
Every year, an estimated 1 million dogs are infected with heartworm disease.1 That’s not a typo. One million dogs. But what’s even more alarming is that 64% of pet owners leave the clinic without asking for some form of preventive.2 That means thousands of patients go without this necessary preventive. And it’s not just heartworm disease: intestinal parasites also pose a significant threat to pets and pet owners. Most pet owners are unaware that the most common intestinal parasites affecting dogs, hookworms and roundworms, can be zoonotic threats as well.
That’s why it’s so important to provide educational materials and stock powerful parasite protection that covers heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms. As a practice manager, you know that making sure your clients and staff have access to these resources is a top priority.
Last year, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, the maker of HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), launched an initiative to help more dogs receive the heartworm protection they need, resulting in almost 60,000 new dogs on heartworm prevention. This year, the mission continues with the 2020 Worm Wars. And we want YOU to join us. As part of the campaign,
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is challenging veterinary clinics around the country to protect more dogs each month by getting 20 new dogs or 20 lapsed dogs on heartworm disease prevention by January 1, 2021. Visit HeartgardClinic.com/wormwars2020 to find useful educational materials for clinic staff and clients, as well as promotional tools to support your campaign.
When you join the fight against worms, you’re doing more than protecting pets against heartworm disease and intestinal parasites. You’re also getting the chance to earn great prizes. As part of the 2020 Worm Wars, we invite you to take part in our monthly contest. For every 20 dogs that receive a heartworm preventive prescription, your clinic gets the chance to win monthly prizes including an iRobot® Roomba®, a Furbo® Dog Camera, a Homedics TotalClean® Air Purifier, and much more. No purchase or payment is necessary to enter. For full contest rules and conditions, please visit https://bit.ly/2WqfHVo to learn more.
To enter, mark down each dog that gets a heartworm preventive prescription on your downloadable tracking poster. Once your clinic’s poster is completed, snap a photo and share it to HeartgardClinic.com/wormwarriors2020 for your chance to win.
It’s up to all of us to protect dogs from heartworm disease and to treat and control hookworm and roundworm infections. Join Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in the 2020 Worm Wars.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: HEARTGARD Plus is well tolerated. All dogs should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Following the use of HEARTGARD Plus, digestive and neurological side effects have rarely been reported. For more information, please see full prescribing information, or visit HEARTGARD.com.
- Weyenberg K. Have a heart. Pet Quarterly. 2009;6(4):8-11.
- Data on file at Boehringer Ingelheim.
HEARTGARD® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
© 2020 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. US-PET-0437-2020-B.