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Many dog owners don't think about heartworm disease when snow covers the ground. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first new heartworm treatment for dogs in half a century, which calls for a midwinter update on this mosquito-borne disease. Compared to the old standby sodium thiacetarsamide, the new treatment, melarsomine dihydrochloride (marketed as ImmiticideŽ by Rhone Merieux. Inc.). is more effective at killing heartworms, easier to administer, far less toxic, and less likely to lead to post-treatment complications. Even with the advent of melarsomine, however, daily or monthly preventive medication is still the key to protecting your dog from this potentially life-threatening disease (see Your Dog, "Heartworm P's and Q's," volume 1, Number 8, March 1995, pp.1-3). "Melarsomine is not going to change our basic approach. . . Want to learn more about heartworm disease and how to protect your dog? This is just a small sample of what you'll find in each issue of Your Dog. For information, contact the subscription department. Your Dog is a monthly 24-page newsletter for dog owners and enthusiasts, and is published by the Tufts Media. Annual subscriptions (12 issues) are available for $20.00 (U.S.)
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