RESULTS OF A SURVEY TO ASSESS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPECTATIONS OF VETERINARIANS AND THEIR CLIENTS REGARDING HEARTWORM PREVENTIVES AND VACCINATIONS IN DOGS

Objective-To determine the knowledge and expectations of veterinarians and clients regarding heartworm preventives and annual vaccinations f or dogs. Design-Practitioner and client survey. Sample Population-435 veterinarians and 1,805 clients. Procedure-A survey was mailed to vete rinarians requesting information from them and their dog-owning client s on expectations and knowledge regarding heartworm preventives and an nual vaccinations. Responses of veterinarians were compared with those of clients, and both were compared with label indications. Results-Ex pectations of veterinarians and clients regarding heartworm preventive s were similar and usually were consistent with regulatory interpretat ion of label terms. Of clients purchasing heartworm preventives, 38% d id not know that the medication was effective against intestinal nemat odes. Veterinarians and clients would be unsatisfied with a product th at reduced, but did not eliminate, all intestinal nematodes. Most clie nts knew that annual vaccinations included distemper virus, parvovirus , and rabies virus, but about half of them did not know that other ant igens were in the vaccines. Clinical Implications-Effects of heartworm preventives and diseases for which dogs are annually vaccinated shoul d be explained fully to clients.