Dr. Nora Fortune

4DX Testing: A Quick and Powerful Screening Tool for the Health of Your Dog

The 4DX test is a quick blood test that screens for four diseases which affect our dogs: Heartworm, Lyme, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and is becoming more prevalent as the climate warms and more dogs (unknowingly infected) are brought into the province from other areas where mosquito borne diseases are widespread. In a few discrete areas within southern Ontario, such as Peterborough County, the prevalence of infection in dogs not on a heartworm preventive can be as high as 5% to 10%.* Local wildlife such as foxes, coyotes and wolves may be infected and be able to spread the disease to our dogs through the mosquito.