(Appeared in Washington Post)

Dear Readers: If you have a dog, it should be on a HEARTWORM preventative medication no matter where you live. It used to be that if you lived in areas with harsh winters, you didn't have to give the pet the medication during the winter months. Now, the American Heartworm Society says you should give your pet heartworm medication all year long. The disease can still be spread by wildlife or when you travel with your pet. Pets become infected when they are bitten by mosquitoes that are carrying the parasite.

American Heartworm Society Presents Important Changes to Earlier Heartworm Standards

Batavia, Illinois – Despite decades of research on Dirofilaria immitis, otherwise known as heartworm, many questions remain unanswered, and the infection continues to increase its geographical range. This month, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) released the results of its first stakeholder survey designed to identify top research priorities for scientists to tackle.

Rise in Mosquito Population Causes New Warning 

Rubin Outlines Three-Year Plan

Batavia, Illinois – As temperatures grow warmer, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) wants every pet owner to be prepared for mosquito season and the heartworm disease risk it carries for pets.

Batavia, Illinois – The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is pleased to announce updates to its Web site, www.heartwormsociety.org, including new features that enhance the user experience for both members and nonmembers.

Washington, D.C. – AVMA Convention – Dr. Sheldon (Shelly) Rubin, director emeritus at Blum Animal Hospital in Chicago, Ill., past president of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, book author and frequent contributor to Chicagoland and national media regarding pet health care issues, has been elected president of the American Heartworm Society (AHS).

International Experts Present Latest Research on Heartworm Disease

Washington, D.C. – The International Feline Heartworm Disease Council reconvenes on July 12, 2007, for the first time in 10 years. The American Heartworm Society (AHS) will host the council in conjunction with its 12^th Triennial Heartworm Symposium in Washington, D.C.