Page 6 - Martin Downs Bulletin - March '25

Page 6, Martin Downs

Tip of THe Tail

Heartworms routinely travel inside our homes to escape the elements and is a monthly preventative pill, with many of the products
in search of a blood meal. Therefore, even indoor animals or including protection against fleas and intestinal parasites.
pets that only go outside to use the restroom are still at risk. These medications come with stickers in the packaging that
And here’s another alarming fact: One heartworm positive you can place on your monthly calendar to remind you when
dog in the neighborhood (this can be someone’s pet or a it’s time to give the prevention. If purchased directly from
stray) will result in 74 percent of the mosquitoes having your veterinarian, these products come with a guarantee from
infected heartworm larvae. This means that your pet, if not the manufacturers. Contact your veterinarian to determine
on heartworm prevention, is at an even greater risk. which option might be best for you and your pet’s lifestyle.
As previously mentioned, heartworm disease can be a fatal If your dog has been off prevention or missed doses, your
disease, in which adult worms measuring up to 14 inches long veterinarian will likely want to perform a simple blood test
can lodge in the heart and major blood vessels. This can cause to ensure he or she has not already contracted heartworms.
irreversible changes to the heart muscle, as well as damaging It can take up to six months for heartworms to be detected
your pet’s lungs causing a cough or shortness of breath on via blood test. So, if you’ve recently adopted a dog with an
walks, etc. In untreated cases, congestive heart failure can unknown medication history, you’ll likely want to retest six
As many of you may or may not be aware, heartworm result in fluid accumulation in the pet’s abdomen. Heartworm months after the initial sampling.
disease is fairly prevalent here in Florida. It is a potentially disease can be treated, but it does carry an expense that far Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center
fatal disease that is spread to dogs and cats via mosquitoes. outweighs the cost of keeping your pet on prevention – not to is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your
The good news? It is completely preventable with heartworm mention the potentially long-term effects on your pet’s heart pets. With focuses on compassionate care in surgery,
prevention, usually in the form of a monthly pill. But did you muscle. For an average 40-pound dog, it would cost as low as physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative medicine,
know that your pet is still at risk of contracting the disease in $12 per month to keep him or her protected, depending on the extensive diagnostics, and emergency service, Palm City
fall and winter months? There is sometimes a false perception product chosen. Alternatively, if the same pet were to become Animal Medical Center combines exceptional medical
that because we see less mosquitoes during that time, that infected with heartworms, the cost to eradicate them could be care with a caring philosophy for pets and their owners.
the risk of your pet getting heartworms is not present. 10 times the yearly amount depending on the treatment. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit www.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. We see heartworms year- Thankfully, there are many options for preventing palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on Facebook
round, especially here in Florida. Additionally, mosquitoes heartworms in our small animal companions. The mainstay at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.

Cleveland CliniC MarTin HealTH news

Colon Cancer Screenings – • Too much red or processed meats in your diet • Having a hereditary cancer syndrome like Lynch syndrome
• Not enough vitamin D in your diet
or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
When To Start • Smoking • Your race or ethnic background
• Heavy alcohol use • Being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal You should watch out for rectal bleeding, changes in bowel If you have a strong family history of colorectal
cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. movements (meaning going from having frequent ones to cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or a hereditary cancer
While the number of overall colorectal cancer-related being constipated or having diarrhea), abdominal pain and syndrome, you’d be considered higher risk and might need
deaths has actually been dropping for several decades thanks weight loss. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, contact to be screened before the age of 45.
to more people getting regular colon cancer screenings and a healthcare provider immediately for a diagnosis. Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal
advances in treatments, colorectal cancer for people under What About People Who Are At Higher Risk Of Colon cancer is about 1 in 24 for men and 1 in 26 for women.
50 has been increasing. Why? Researchers aren’t sure and Cancer? The hope is that these newer guidelines will increase
are investigating. What makes you high risk? Risk factors that are beyond screenings and help identify health issues before they
So, when should you get a colonoscopy? your control include: become severe, allowing for more effective treatment and
Since 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an • Being older better outcomes.
independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention • A history of colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer or You may be able to schedule a colonoscopy at Cleveland
and evidence-based medicine, recommends that colorectal inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Clinic in Stuart or Port St. Lucie without an office visit. Visit
cancer screenings start at age 45, as compared to the prior • A family history of colorectal cancer or polyps ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Colonoscopy to learn more.
recommendation of age 50.
A colonoscopy screening doesn’t only detect cancer but Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD,
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During the procedure, healthcare providers use a flexible
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