4Dx Test
4Dx Test
Sometimes called a "Snap Test". This test includes testing for Heartworm, and some people still just refer to it as a "Heartworm Test".
Who Should Be Tested
All dogs over six months of age.
What Kind of Sample We Need
A small amount of blood.
What We Are Looking For
The 4Dx test is looking for four different problems - heartworm, Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis. Heartworms are parasites that are carried by mosquitoes, and can enter your pet's bloodstream when he or she is bitten. They take up residence in the heart or sometimes lungs, NOT the GI tract, so a fecal test won't detect heartworm (this confuses some people, since they know a fecal test looks for other sorts of worms). Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis are all diseases carried by ticks. They are all bacterial infections. The 4Dx test looks for antigen - proteins produced by the parasite itself - for heartworm, and for antibodies - the body's immune response - to Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma. Sometimes the body can handle infection on its own, but will still have antibodies left over - so if the test comes back positive, we'll want to send blood out for more specific testing to tell us if your dog has a current infection, or was just exposed but is well.
Why This Test Is Important
All four of these conditions are potentially fatal. All four may show no symptoms until disease is far advanced (though some dogs do show symptoms sooner), and the earlier the problem is discovered, the easier it is to treat.
How Often We Should Test
Once a year for healthy dogs or sooner if there are symptoms consistent with any of the above diseases. We will also want to re-test for heartworm before your dog starts taking preventatives (Heartguard, Trifexis, Interceptor, etc) if he or she hasn't been taking any prevention for more than a couple months.
For more information about canine heartworm disease: Pets and Parasites: Heartworm
For more information about Lyme disease: Canine Lyme Disease
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