How Good Are Quick Heartworm Tests For Dogs?

In Western Fiji, a study evaluated the effectiveness of quick, on-the-spot tests for detecting heartworm in dogs. These tests are advantageous due to their fast results.

Test Comparison

The study examined two types of tests:

• One that detects baby worms in the blood
• Four that detect worm proteins

Key Findings

• The modified Knott's test (MKT) and Anigen Rapid test performed well in confirming heartworm in symptomatic dogs.
• However, neither test was consistently superior to the other.
• The Anigen Rapid, SNAP, and truRapid tests were the most effective in confirming heartworm.
• The WITNESS test was less reliable than the others.

Veterinary Recommendations

• Any positive result from these tests increases the likelihood of heartworm infection.
• If choosing one test, vets should prefer Anigen Rapid, SNAP, or truRapid over the WITNESS test.

Importance of Early Detection

Heartworm poses serious health risks to dogs, making early detection crucial. While these rapid tests are helpful, they are not foolproof. Vets must consider all clinical evidence when diagnosing.