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PROGRAM GUIDE

WWW.KNOWHEARTWORMS.ORG

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Dear Veterinary Professional,

Welcome to the KNOW Heartworms campaign! We are pleased you have committed to raising awareness of feline heartworm disease and HARD (Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease). Practices that participated in last year’s campaign told us the materials in the clinic kit were very effective in communicating information on feline heartworm disease and made it easier to educate team members and clients about the need for prevention. Some specific comments we received include:

“[KNOW Heartworms] got our entire staff on the same page regarding this disease.”

“[KNOW Heartworms] reinforced the importance of recommending the use of heartworm preventatives and made it easier to educate clients about heartworm disease in cats.”

We hope after implementing your own KNOW Heartworms campaign, you will agree! Research has shown that this disease is much more dangerous than we once thought, and with your participation, you are helping to ultimately raise the standard of care for cats.

This program guide contains tools to better educate yourself, your team and your clients on the serious risk heartworm disease poses to cats. We hope you will hold a staff meeting and use the lesson plan and handouts to educate your co-workers on this disease. Photocopy extra handouts or download and print them from www.knowheartworms.org. Use the news article in your practice’s newsletter and share the games with children in your practice’s waiting area. Enter the contest to showcase your dedication to the campaign. Take your commitment to KNOW Heartworms to the next level by becoming a member of the American Heartworm Society and/or the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Both organizations are committed to this campaign and continue to educate their membership on other relevant issues your practice may face.

Please remember to visit www.knowheartworms.org for downloadable versions of graphics and documents in this program guide that will help you to spread the word on feline heartworm disease.

Thank you for your continued commitment and support of KNOW Heartworms!

Charles (Tom) Nelson, DVM Jane Brunt, DVMPast President Past President American Heartworm Society American Association of Feline Practitioners

KNOW Heartworms is committed to educating veterinarians and cat owners about the significant threat of feline heartworm disease, which presents itself as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD), and the importance of prevention. The American Heartworm Society and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have partnered together for this campaign, which is sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health.

The HARD Evidence: What is Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease?Heartworm infection in cats was recently defined as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD). The initial infection takes place when a mosquito carrying microscopic-size heartworm larvae bites a cat. The larvae enter through the bite wound where they develop in the tissues. The immature worms then enter a blood vessel and are carried to the arteries in the lung where they cause an inflammatory reaction. Most worms die at this stage, causing even more inflammation and causing the cat to exhibit asthma-like symptoms. Respiratory signs including persistent rapid breathing, intermittent coughing and increased respiratory effort are signs of HARD and may be caused by the presence, or death, of heartworms in either juvenile or adult stages. Worms that do progress to the adult stage may live undetected for several years, but can still cause inflammation when the worms die. In some cases this inflammation can be severe enough to cause death.

About KNOW Heartworms

The Five Myths and Misunderstandings Dogs vs. CatsHeartworm disease is not just a canine disease. Heartworms affect cats differently than dogs, but the disease they cause is equally serious.

Indoor vs. Outdoor CatsIt only takes one mosquito to infect a cat, and because mosquitoes can get indoors, both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk and should receive heartworm preventive medication. In a North Carolina study, 28 percent of the cats diagnosed with heartworm were inside-only cats.

It’s a Heart DiseaseThe name “heartworm disease” is a misnomer, as it mostly affects the lungs and not just the heart. Signs are often mistaken for feline asthma, allergic bronchitis or other respiratory diseases.

Adult Heartworms vs. Juvenile HeartwormsCats do not need an adult heartworm to exhibit clinical signs; in fact, juvenile heartworms are a main cause of the problems. Studies show 50 percent of cats infected with juvenile heartworms have significant disease of the small arteries supplying blood to the lungs.

DiagnosisDiagnosis is difficult as negative antigen and antibody tests do not rule out heartworm disease. Positive tests, however, are significant.

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How can I tell if my cat has heartworm?Signs Associated With HARD: Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease

ContentsAbout KNOW HeartwormsDiagnosing Feline Heartworm DiseaseStaff Meeting Lesson PlanStaff Meeting HandoutPractice Tips Visit ChecklistClient HandoutArticle for Practice NewsletterContest Entry FormActivities for KidsAHS Membership ApplicationAAFP Membership ApplicationOnline Resources

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CoughingDifficulty Breathing

VomitingLethargy

Loss of AppetiteDiarrhea

Weight Loss

Rapid Heart RateFaintingBlindness

CollapseConvulsions

Sudden Death

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Diagnosing Feline Heartworm DiseaseDiagnosing feline heartworm infection is more challenging than with dogs, therefore, it is important for practitioners to understand the testing options below as well as their limitations.

The most commonly used tests are heartworm serology, thoracic radiology and echocardiography. Microfilaria filtration tests are less useful, as cats are seldom microfilaremic when examined. For more detailed information and official recommendations of the American Heartworm Society, reference the “2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Cats.” The guidelines are available to the public at www.heartwormsociety.org

Serology TestsThere are two types of serology tests, antibody (Ab) and antigen (Ag). Interpret results carefully as neither test provides a complete picture and both have inherent limitations. Given the limitations of serology tests, AHS recommends screening healthy cats with both antibody and antigen tests at the same time to increase the probability of making an appropriate diagnosis.

Antibody TestsAntibody tests detect an early heartworm infection through the presence of anti-heartworm antibodies. The presence of heartworm antibodies doesn’t necessarily indicate a current infection, but it does mean the cat was infected at some point in its life. False negative test results are also possible with this diagnostic.

Antibody tests are the best way of establishing the risk of feline heartworm disease, as more cats than previously assumed test positive for an infection. Therefore, antibody test results may give practitioners a better sense of the prevalence of feline heartworm infection.

Key facts• Bothfemaleandmalelarvaecantriggeracat’s immune response• Antibodiescanbedetectedonceheartworms reach the late L4 stage• Anegativeresultdoesnotruleoutheartworm infection• Falsenegativesarenotuncommon• Antibodylevelsmaydecreaseastheheartworms mature

Antigen TestsAntigen tests have long been the preferred method for detecting heartworm infection in dogs, mainly because a positive test result confirms the physical presence of adult heartworms. This is also true for cats. False positives rarely occur, however, it is impossible to rule out an infection using antigen tests alone, because male worms will go undetected and since single-sex infections are common in cats.

Key facts• Antigentestsdetectproteinsandcarbohydrates shed from the reproductive tract of mature female worms• Antigentestscandetectfemaleheartwormsatfive to seven months post-infection• Apositiveantigentestresultisadefinitive heartworm disease diagnosis• Catsrarelyhouseaninfectionlongenoughfor antigen tests to detect adult worms• Antigentestswillneveridentifyjuvenileworms• Negativetestsdon’truleoutaheartworm infection as male-only heartworm infections can occur.

Thoracic RadiographyThoracic radiography can provide strong evidence of a heartworm infection. This method can detect the presence of worms four to six months post-infection

through vascular changes, primarily pulmonary inflammation, pulmonary edema and fluid in the heart. In some cases of feline heartworm disease, thoracic radiographs provide no evidence of infection.

What to look for• Subtleenlargementofthemaincaudalpulmonary arteries appearing to be 1.6 times the size of the ninth rib (similar to canine images)• Abronchointerstitiallungpatternthatmayclear spontaneously within a few months is a common secondary feature, suggestive of, but not unique to feline heartworm disease• Changesinthepulmonaryarteriestendto normalize and may disappear completely• Hyperinflationofthelungswithflatteningofthe diaphragm (less common)• Focalparenchymalradiodensities(lesscommon)• Consolidatedlunglobes(lesscommon)• Pleuraleffusion(lesscommon)• Pneumothorax(lesscommon)

Where to look• Vascularfeaturesarevisualizedbestinthe ventrodorsal view • Evidencemaybevisibleonlyintherightcaudal lobar artery, where heartworms are found most often

EchocardiographyEchocardiography is another option for detecting a heartworm infection by identifying the actual

presence of worms five to six months post-infection. Limitations of this detection method include image quality, patient cooperation, worm location and the skill of the practitioner.

What to look for• Thecuticle,orbodywall,ofanadultheartworm appears as two parallel lines, often called “railroad tracks”

Where to look• Inthepulmonaryarteries• Rightventricle• Occasionallytherightatrium

Diagnostics and Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD)• Antigentestswillneveridentifyjuvenileworms,a primary cause of Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD)• Onepercentofcatswilltestheartworm-antigen positive and 12 to 16 percent are antibody positive. Necropsy studies have shown that half of these antibody-positive cats have HARD• Evenwiththegivenlimitations,catspresenting with HARD symptoms should be tested with serology and thoracic radiography• Ifserologyandthoracicradiographytestsare inconclusive, you should follow up with echocardiography• Veterinariansshouldmonitordiagnosedcatsover the clinical course of infection

Alveolus, an air sac in the lungs where oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream. This alveolus is from a cat receiving heartworm preventive medication.

Inflammation is apparent as a result of an adult heartworm.

This is the alveolus from a cat with juvenile heartworms.

Images courtesy of Dr. Ray Dillon and Dr. Byron L. Blagburn, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine

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Topic #1:

Prevalence of Feline Heartworm DiseaseAsk team members to recall how many dogs were diagnosed and/or treated for heartworm infection in the last six months. Have files on hand and numbers ready as backup in case no one responds.

Now, remind the team how heartworm disease is transmitted. Discuss the number of clients in multi-species households, and go over the incidence map at http://www.knowheartworms.org/mythtwo.asp.

Topic #2:

The Myths & MisunderstandingsEncourage all team members to recall times when clients asked whether or not their cat is at risk. You can also discuss instances when clients have resisted a team member’s recommendation for prevention.

Now, go over the myths and misunderstandings to the right. After reviewing, you may also wish to do role playing to re-enact situations and practice using what you’ve learned.

The following lesson plan is designed to help educate your entire team on feline heartworm disease and Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD) for the benefit of your clients. Depending on the size of your practice, this lesson should run about 30 to 40 minutes.

On pages eight and nine, there is a two-page handout that can be copied or downloaded at www.knowheartworms.org/lessonhandout.pdf. This will help everyone follow along and serves as a reference guide. You may also wish to provide this entire program guide to your team, also available at www.knowheartworms.org

Who should attend? Veterinarians, Veterinary Assistants, Veterinary Technicians, Practice Managers and Receptionists.

Educating Your Team

• Heartworm is a dog disease. Heartworms affect cats differently, but they are just as susceptible to a heartworm infection. Although cats are unnatural hosts for adult heartworms, and juvenile worms rarely reach maturity, irritation and inflammation caused by the infection can be very serious.

• Only outdoor cats are at risk. It only takes one mosquito to infect a cat and everyone knows mosquitoes get indoors.

• Heartworm disease only affects cats’ hearts. Actually, heartworm disease primarily affects a cat’s lungs. Symptoms are characteristic of feline asthma or other respiratory diseases.

• Only adult heartworms cause disease. Heartworms do not need to mature to cause problems. Studies show 50 percent of cats infected with juvenile heartworms show significant disease of the small arteries and lungs.

• Heartworm disease is easy to diagnose. Diagnosis is difficult as negative antigen and antibody tests do not rule out heartworm disease. Positive tests, however, are significant.

Topic #3:

Heartworm Associated Respiratory DiseaseMake sure all team members have a good understanding of HARD and explain how to discuss the disease with clients. Focus on the fourth myth: Only adult heartworms cause disease. Remind the practice team that HARD is difficult to diagnose, but can be easily prevented.

Also discuss past clients who presented with asthmatic symptoms and whether or not everyone’s assumptions have changed. This may also be a good time to discuss testing and prevention protocols.

Topic #4:

Get All Team Members’ Cats on PreventionConvey how important it is to believe what you are telling pet owners. You can show how much you care about prevention by offering all team members a free dose for their cats. Companies may even offer this for your staff at no charge.

Topic #5:

Tools and BrainstormingTake some time to go over the KNOW Heartworms clinic materials. Decide as a team what items to request and how you will use them in the practice. Make sure to mention all the items listed below. Ordering instructions are included in the clinic kit on a separate page. • Poster• Flipchart• Brochure• ClientEducationTool

The staff handout also includes practice ideas that can help get the creativity flowing.

Topic #6:

Learn More!Encourage team members to seek out these additional resources to continue learning on their own.

• Visitwww.knowheartworms.orgformoreprogram information, downloadable materials and examples of successful in-clinic initiatives from winners of the 2007 KNOW Heartworms Veterinary Hospital Awareness Contest.

• Visitwww.heartwormsociety.orgfortheAmerican Heartworm Society’s 2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Cats. This Web site also offers pet owner information, FAQs and children’s activities.

• Visitwww.catvets.comforfelineheartwormdisease and HARD information in the “Cat Health Topics” section.

• Visitwww.tnavc.orgwhereyoucandownload a free talk by Dr. Ray Dillon, heartworm researcher.

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Prevalence of Feline Heartworm Disease

The Myths & Misunderstandings• Heartwormisadogdisease.• Onlyoutdoorcatsareatrisk.• Heartwormdiseaseonlyaffectscats’hearts.• Onlyadultheartwormscausedisease.• Heartwormdiseaseiseasytodiagnosis.

Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease

Is YOUR Cat on Prevention?

How Can You Use the Following Materials?• Poster• Flipchart• Brochure• ClientEducationTool

Learn More!• Visitwww.knowheartworms.orgformorepro-

gram information, downloadable materials and examples of successful in-clinic initiatives from winners of the 2007 KNOW Heartworms Veterinary Hospital Awareness Contest.

• Visitwww.heartwormsociety.orgfortheAmericanHeartworm Society’s 2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Cats. This Web site also offers pet owner informa-tion, FAQs and children’s activities.

• Visitwww.catvets.comforfelineheartwormdisease and HARD information in the “Cat Health Topics” section.

• Visitwww.tnavc.orgwhereyoucandownloadafree talk by Dr. Ray Dillon, heartworm researcher.

Key Points to Discuss when Talking with Clients:• “Weusedtothinkheartwormsonlyinfecteddogs;

now we know that cats get them, too.”• “We’veseencasesofheartwormsindogsinour

area, so that means there are heartworms in cats in our area as well.”

• “Heartwormsarecarriedbymosquitoes,andmosquitoes can get inside your house, so even your indoor-only cat needs to be on prevention.”

• “Ifyoufeelitisnecessarytopreventheartwormsin your dog, it is also necessary to prevent it in your cat.”

• “InfectedcatsdevelopasyndromecalledHARD:Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease, which means heartworms primarily affect cats’ lungs, not their hearts.”

• “Heartwormdiseaseincatscannotbetreated,sowe must prevent it.”

• “Yourcatshouldreceivepreventionallyearlong,not just in the summer.”

Staff Meeting Handout: Feline Heartworm Disease The following are main points to keep in mind during and after your team meeting on feline heartworm disease. We’ve left plenty of room for notes.

Tips on Creating a KNOW Heartworms PracticeThe following are ideas for implementing the KNOW Heartworms campaign in your practice. Most of these ideas were submitted to the KNOW Heartworms team from staff members like you!

Engage Your Entire Staff• Setagoalforthenumberofcatsonheartworm

prevention. Make sure the number you choose is reasonable and post progress on a chart that the entire team can see. (Staff at Countryside Veterinary Hospital in Chelmsford, Mass. are working to put 1,080 cats on prevention within one year.)

• Holdaninternalcontesttoseewhichstaffmember can place the most cats on prevention.

Educate Your Community• Workwithlocalelementaryschoolsandpresent

to children how to keep their cats safe. Hand out goody bags containing coloring pages and games. (Staff from Wolftever Pet Hospital of Harrison, Tenn. created cat, mosquito and heart costumes to wear during their presentations to educate students at Harrison Elementary School)

• Holdacoloringcontestforkidsanddisplayartwork in the clinic.

Promote Prevention Among Your Clients• Displaythenamesofcatsthathavebeentested

for heartworms.• CreateaslideshowonDVDtoplayinyour

waiting room.

• Tieinapreventionpushwithaholidayseason.(Staff at CHAT distributed plastic Easter eggs filled with educational information on heartworms.)

• Organizeafuneventoropenhousetopromoteprevention. (Staff at VCA Hemingway in Saratoga, Calif. had a latte and smoothie bar. They gave clients complimentary beverages along with handouts on feline heartworm disease.)

• Developaquizorsurveyforclientstofilloutinthe waiting room. (CHAT offered complimentary doses of prevention to clients in exchange for completed surveys.)

What have you done to promote feline heartworm prevention in your practice? Feel free to submit any additional ideas to the KNOW Heartworms team at info@knowheartworms.org.

Staff at Wolftever Pet Hospital recorded the names of cats that were tested for heartworms.

Wolftever Pet Hospital provided educational coloring sheets for children at a local elementary school.

VCA Hemingway staff in front of their latte and smoothie bar

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Visit Checklist: Feline Heartworm Disease

Date:Owner:Pet name:Breed: Sex: M/N, F/S Age: Weight:Lifestyle: % Indoor % OutdoorParasite control:Heartworm control (if different):

Date last dose administered:Medical alert(s):History: Presenting complaint(s):

Signs (check all that apply)Acute Chronic collapse coughing dyspnea vomiting convulsions dyspnea diarrhea/vomiting lethargy blindness anorexia tachycardia weight loss syncope chylothorax Antigen test result: Antibody test result:Echocardiography results (if necessary):Thoracic Radiography results (if necessary):

Rechecks: ( in days) ( in months) ( if problems arise)

Recommendations after today’s assessment:Prevention dispensed:Prescribed doses (amount):

Additional notes:

Do cats really get heartworms?Heartworms aren’t just a dog problem. A Texas study conducted in the late 1990s found that 26 percent of cats had contracted heartworms at some point in their lives. And remember, those pesky mosquitoes will bite any animal regardless of whether its tail wags or flicks.

Just how do mosquitoes transmit heartworms to cats?Mosquitoes are carriers of heartworm larvae. When a mosquito bites a cat, the larvae enter the cat’s system through the bite wound. When these larvae develop into adult heartworms, they eventually die and cause severe heart inflammation that can be fatal. Even though the presence of adult heartworms is potentially deadly, the little larvae can be even more problematic. Most larvae don’t make it to adulthood in cats, which means they die in the cat’s lungs. The irritation leads to heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). Studies show that 50 percent of cats infected with heartworm larvae have significant disease in the arteries that supply blood to their lungs. To learn more about HARD, see“Heartworms Can’t Hide,” in the box to the right.

My cat doesn’t go outside, so I don’t need to worry, right?Wrong. Indoor cats are at lower risk for heartworm disease than outdoor cats, but there’s no guarantee a mosquito won’t buzz into your house through an open door or window—and it only takes one bite to do the damage. A North Carolina study reported that 28 percent of cats diagnosed with heartworm disease were inside-only cats, so prevention products are smart to use in indoor cats as well as free-roamers.

Mosquitoes are common where I live. Does my cat need prevention?Yes. Cases of feline heartworm disease have beenreported in all 50 states. The occurrence of heartworm disease is markedly lower in some states, but mosquitoes are resilient little fellas and they’re showing up in more and more places. And don’t forget that the game changes when you travel. Anytime you pack your cat’s bags, especially if you’re heading to lake or coastal regions, you need to arm him with heartworm prevention.

OK, so my cat needs heartworm prevention. What does it involve? The good news is that heartworm prevention products are some of the easiest to use, least expensive, and most effective items on the market. Your veterinarian knows all about these products and will help you decide which one is right for you and your cat.

Cats and Heartworm Disease: A Story You May Not Have Heard

From Your Veterinarian

Mosquitoes don’t discriminate. They bite you, they bite your cat. But when they sink their teeth into your feline friend, they might cause more than an itch. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworm larvae to cats. If these microscopic larvae settle in cats’ lungs, they can cause big health problems. There’s no cure for feline heartworm disease, but it is 100 percent preventable. Read below to learn more, then talk with your veterinarian about which prevention method is best for keeping your cat and its ticker heartworm-free.

Heartworms can’t hide

Heartworm larvae are virtually invisible, but if your cat is infected with them, they’ll show themselves. Most cats with early-stage disease experience heart-worm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) signs. Rather than affecting the heart, the larvae affect the lungs and cause breathing problems often mistaken for asthma or allergic bronchitis. If your cat exhibits any signs of HARD, which are listed below, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

Adaptation of this form courtesy of Advanstar.

Coughing

Panting

Open-mouthed breathing

Rapid breathing

Gagging

Appetite loss

Weight loss

Diarrhea

Fainting

Lethargy

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Heartworm disease is a serious risk to feline health that harms or even kills thousands of cats each year. While it is a very preventable disease, studies show that fewer than 5 percent of U.S. households with cats regularly administer heartworm prevention, while 59 percent of dog-owning households do so regularly.

Veterinarians say this lack of prevention leaves cats at risk of developing Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease, or HARD. HARD attacks a cat’s lungs and is particularly dangerous because it is often misdiagnosed as feline asthma, allergies or bronchitis. Fortunately, a program called KNOW Heartworms may help keep cats safe by promoting the need for prevention.

The initiative is based on new data outlined in the updated American Heartworm Society (AHS) Feline Guidelines and focuses on these five myths and misunderstandings surrounding feline heartworm disease:• Dogs vs. Cats: Heartworm is not just a canine disease, and it affects

cats differently than dogs. While cats typically have fewer worms than dogs, and the life span of the worm is shorter in cats, the consequences for felines can be much more serious.

•Indoor vs. Outdoor Cats: It only takes one mosquito to infect a cat, and because

mosquitoes can get indoors, both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk. In fact, one North Carolina study showed that 28 percent of cats diagnosed with heartworm were inside-only cats.

•It’saHeartDisease: “Heartworm disease” is a misnomer; it mostly affects the

lungs, not just the heart. The disease frequently is mistaken for asthma and other respiratory diseases.

2008 KNOW Heartworms Awareness Contest(You may submit this form online at www.knowheartworms.org. Photos are welcomed and encouraged.)

Show the veterinary profession how you successfully implemented a KNOW Heartworms campaign in your practice. A judging panel representing the American Heartworm Society (AHS), the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and Pfizer Animal Health will select the winning practices. Criteria used to evaluate each hospital campaign will be how successful you were in educating clients about feline heartworm disease and HARD. Membership in AAFP or AHS is not a requirement for eligibility.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three veterinary practices. The first-place winner will receive a $1,500 stipend toward attending the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla., January 17-21, 2009, or Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., February 15-19, 2009, and a complimentary one-year membership in AHS or AAFP. The second-place winner will receive a $500 stipend toward either conference. The third place winner will receive complimentary memberships in both organizations. All hospitals will be featured in a press release announcing the winners distributed to veterinary trade publications and their local media. All entries must be postmarked by October 1, 2008. Winners will be announced November 1, 2008.

Practice Name

Person Submitting Entry

Address

City

State Zip

Phone Fax

E-mail

Web Site

Signature

AHS Member AAFP Member

(Please check all that apply. Note: You do not need to be a member to enter.)

CLINIC ACTIVITIES (How did you promote heartworm prevention in your practice? Please check all that apply.)

Information Display Practice Communications Heartworm Prevention Product Display Client Mailing Open House Other

Protect Your Cat From Heartworms•AdultHeartwormsvs.JuvenileHeartworms: New research shows that juvenile heartworms, not just

adult worms, can cause serious health problems.•Diagnosis:

Accurate diagnosis can be difficult, since negative antigen and antibody tests don’t automatically rule out the presence of heartworms. Chronic signs of feline heartworm disease include difficulty breathing, coughing or gagging, heavy or fast breathing and vomiting. More acute signs can be weight loss, lethargy, seizures, fainting and loss of coordination. However, some cats with heartworm infection may exhibit no signs of disease.

According to Charles Thomas (Tom) Nelson, DVM, a past president of the AHS, both the veterinary community and the cat-owning public have a long way to go in developing awareness about the risks of feline heartworm disease. It’s a belief echoed by Jane Brunt, DVM, a past president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP).

“Cat owners need to know that if their cat isn’t on prevention, their cat is at risk for feline heartworm disease or HARD,” explains Dr. Brunt.

The KNOW Heartworms campaign is sponsored by the AHS and AAFP and funded by an educational grant from Pfizer Animal Health. The KNOW Heartworms team hopes it will help increase awareness and help pet owners avoid tragic situations such as the one faced by Ashley Jones. Jones, a resident physician, came home one day to find her one-and-a-half-year-old indoor cat Harley lying motionless on the floor. After rushing her to the vet for examination, the doctors determined that Harley had died from heartworm disease.

“My husband and I felt helpless, and wished there was something we could have done to prevent [Harley’s death],” says Jones. She and her husband now protect their other cat against heartworms and work to raise awareness of the disease.

For more information on HARD and ways to prevent feline heartworm disease, visit the Web site, www.knowheartworms.org.

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How many team members participated in the promotion?

What were the tasks assigned to each member?

Describe how you decorated your practice:

Describe any events you held:

Describe any promotions you employed:

ResultsHow many cats does your practice see on a monthly basis?

How many more clients accepted heartworm prevention medication?

COMMUNITY OUTREACH (How did you promote heartworm prevention in your community? Please check all that apply.)

School Presentations Newspaper Coverage Local Cat Shows Cat Clubs Other

PublicityDid you submit an article to local print media or conduct any local interviews? Explain:

Online PromotionsDescribe how you used your Web site and e-mail to educate cat owners:

CREATIVITYHow did you use the materials provided in the kit and/or at www.knowheartworms.org?

What did you do to add your own unique elements?

HARD COPIES SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO P.O. BOX 22529 KANSAS CITY, MO 64113. This information may be used to educate other veterinarians. No submissions will be returned. Your entry is your consent to allow your materials to be used.

Kitty Coloring SheetKNOW Heartworms Awareness Contest (continued)

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Word Search

� I would like to apply for member status in the American Heartworm Society. As a member, I will have access to all benefits of the Society, including voting privileges.

Note: Non-veterinarians must provide a summary of current research activities.

Membership Dues (Please check one)

� One Year $35

� Two Years $70

� Three Years $105

� Four Years $140

� Five Years $175

Name

List of Degree(s) and Institutions

Affiliation/Practice Name

Address

City State Zip Country

Phone

Fax

E-mail

Signature

Date

Please make checks payable to The American Heartworm Society. Send this completed form along with check or money order to:

American Heartworm Society P.O. Box 667 Batavia, IL 60510

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

If you have any questions, email us at: eve.larocca@heartwormsociety.org or call us at (630) 262-1997.

Bite

Cat

Cough

Diagnosis

Disease

Evidence

Feline

HARD

Heartworm

Kitten

KNOW

Larvae

Lung

Mosquito

Parasite

Prevention

Respiratory

Test

Veterinarian

XRAY

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Online Resources•Visitwww.knowheartworms.orgformoreprograminformation,downloadablematerialsandexamplesofsuccessful

in-clinic initiatives from winners of the 2007 KNOW Heartworms Veterinary Hospital Awareness Contest.•Visitwww.heartwormsociety.orgfortheAmericanHeartwormSociety’s2007GuidelinesfortheDiagnosis,

Treatment and Prevention of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Cats. This Web site also offers pet owner information, FAQs and children’s activities.

•Visitthe“CatHealthTopics”sectionofwww.catvets.comforahandoutonfelineheartwormdiseaseandHARD.•Visitwww.tnavc.orgwhereyoucandownloadafreetalkbyDr.RayDillon,heartwormresearcher.

Contact Information

Name First M.I. Last

Clinic/Practice/Company

Mailing Address

City State/Province

Zip/PC Country

Work Phone Fax

E-mail Web

Is the above address: � Home or � Office

Education Information

Veterinary School

Year of Graduation

Diplomate of

Payment Information

� Check or money order enclosed (payable to AAFP) in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. Mail completed application and check to:

American Association of Feline Practitioners 203 Towne Centre Drive Hillsborough, NJ 08844

� Charge to credit card and fax to (908) 292–1188 � Visa � Mastercard � American Express

Card No. Expiration

Print Card Holder Name

Would you like to be included in the “Find An AAFP Doctor” database that is posted on the AAFP website for public referrals? (Please note we only list practice name, ad-dress, phone, email, and website; we do not list personal information.)

� Yes, include me in the database

� No, do not include me in the database

Would you like to be included in the AAFP directory?

� Yes, include me in the directory

� No, do not include me in the directory

Student Preceptor Program

� This is a program, which allows interested students to work with well established practitioners. If you would consider having a preceptor program in your clinic, please check here and we will send you more information.

Notice of Consent

Application for membership in the AAFP constitutes consent for the association to make you aware of products and services via fax, email or mail.

Signature Date

Practice Type:

� Feline Only � Small Animal

� Mixed � Large Animal

� Academia � Industry

� Government

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP

� Annual Membership $165.00

� Recent Graduate $85.00

(Graduatedwithinthelastyear)

* AAFP does not prorate membership dues. If you join the association after November 1 of the current year, you will be paid through the following year, since the membership is based on a calendar year January—December.

* NOTE: Contributions or gifts to associations which are exempt under IRS 501(c)6 are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. However, they may be deducted as ordinary and necessary business expenses.

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