Heartworm Positive Fox in Blandford and Bedford, NS.
Recently, a fox was taken from the Blandford area to the Metro Animal Emergency Clinic for reduced appetite and being unthrifty. Blood work was performed, including a 4DX snap test (an in-clinic test used to screen for heartworm and tick-born diseases.
The fox tested positive for heartworm. The test was repeated and again came back positive. It is unlikely that the fox has traveled outside the province.
Also another heartworm positive case was discovered this Spring in a dog in the Bedford area. This dog did travel from Georgia.
It is uncertain how much of a risk these animals have presented for dogs in Nova Scotia but it reminds us why we need to use monthly heartworm preventive medication and do occasional screening tests for heartworm disease.