Email this PagePrint this Page SALEM, ORE. (April 18, 2018) —The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), the leading source on parasitic diseases that threaten the health of pets and people, has released its annual 2018 parasite forecasts. The big headline for pet owners is an increase in prevalence of two of the most problematic diseases for pets: heartworm and Lyme disease. Heartworm is predicted to continue to aggressively spread across the United States with the growth of Lyme disease focused east of the Rockies. According to CAPC, the expansive nature of heartworm is partially attributed to the hot and wet weather over a two-year span. Shifting weather patterns have created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes across the country. Mosquitoes transmit the parasite that causes heartworm disease which can be deadly to pets. Another contributing factor is the relocation of many unknown heartworm positive dogs across the country, who survived these dangerous storms. Heartworm isn’t the only parasite pet owners will need to be watchful for. CAPC