Dog CHW Ag Test

Canine Heartworm Antigen Rapid Test (CHW Ag)

Catalog No.: JCA003D

Product Information

¤  INTENDED USE

The Canine Heartworm Antigen Rapid Test is a test cassette to diagnose the presence of Dirofilaria immitis antigens (Dog CHW Ag test) in dog’s blood specimen.

Assay Time:  5-10 minutes

Specimen: Serum, plasma or whole blood

¤  TEST PROCEDURE

Q&A

¤  What are the Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in a Dog?

The severity of heartworm disease is related to how many worms are living inside the dog (the worm burden), how long the dog has been infected, and how the dog’s body is responding to the presence of the heartworms.  The dog’s activity level also plays a role in the severity of the disease and in when symptoms are first seen.  Symptoms of heartworm disease may not be obvious in dogs that have low worm burdens, have been recently infected, or are not very active.  Dogs that have heavy worm burdens, have been infected for a long time, or are very active often show obvious symptoms of heartworm disease. 

There are four classes, or stages, of heartworm disease.  The higher the class, the worse the disease and the more obvious the symptoms.

- Class 1:  No symptoms or mild symptoms such as an occasional cough.

- Class 2:  Mild to moderate symptoms such as an occasional cough and tiredness after moderate activity.

- Class 3:  More severe symptoms such as a sickly appearance, a persistent cough, and tiredness after mild activity.  Trouble breathing and signs of heart failure are common. For class 2 and 3 heartworm disease, heart and lung changes are usually seen on chest x-rays.

- Class 4:  Also called caval syndrome.  There is such a heavy worm burden that blood flowing back to the heart is physically blocked by a large mass of worms.  Caval syndrome is life-threatening and quick surgical removal of the heartworms is the only treatment option.  The surgery is risky, and even with surgery, most dogs with caval syndrome die. 

Not all dogs with heartworm disease develop caval syndrome.  However, if left untreated, heartworm disease will progress and damage the dog’s heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, eventually causing death.

¤  What do I need to know about heartworm testing?

Heartworm disease is a serious, progressive disease. The earlier it is detected, the better the chances the pet will recover. There are few, if any, early signs of disease when a dog or cat is infected with heartworms, so detecting their presence with a heartworm test administered by a veterinarian is important. The test requires just a small blood sample from your pet, and it works by detecting the presence of heartworm proteins. Some veterinarians process heartworm tests right in their hospitals while others send the samples to a diagnostic laboratory. In either case, results are obtained quickly. If your pet tests positive, further tests may be ordered.

¤  How significant is my pet's risk for heartworm infection?

Many factors must be considered, even if heartworms do not seem to be a problem in your local area. Your community may have a greater incidence of heartworm disease than you realize—or you may unknowingly travel with your pet to an area where heartworms are more common. Heartworm disease is also spreading to new regions of the country each year. Stray and neglected dogs and certain wildlife such as coyotes, wolves, and foxes can be carriers of heartworms. Mosquitoes blown great distances by the wind and the relocation of infected pets to previously uninfected areas also contribute to the spread of heartworm disease (this happened following Hurricane Katrina when 250,000 pets, many of them infected with heartworms, were “adopted” and shipped throughout the country).

The fact is that heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states, and risk factors are impossible to predict. Multiple variables, from climate variations to the presence of wildlife carriers, cause rates of infections to vary dramatically from year to year—even within communities. And because infected mosquitoes can come inside, both outdoor and indoor pets are at risk.

For that reason, the American Heartworm Society recommends that you “think 12:” get your pet tested every 12 months for heartworm and give your pet heartworm preventive 12 months a year.

J&G Biotech Ltd (Reg. No.: 08419172)

326 Cleveland Road, London, England E18 2AN, UK