The 4Dx test is a quick, in-house blood test that screens for diseases in dogs that are transmitted by mosquitos and ticks. It can help detect exposure to one of these diseases in seemingly healthy dogs.
The 4Dx test detects:
• Dirofilaria immitis (Heartworm) antigen
• Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) antibodies
• Ehrlichia canis/ewingii (Ehrlichiosis) antibodies
• Anaplasma phagocytophilum/platys (Anaplasmosis) antibodies
With increasing numbers of ticks in our region the risk of exposure to ticks and the diseases they can transmit increases. Often times ticks may bite a pet and not be noticed in time or at all, there we may detect exposure to one of these diseases in an unsuspecting dog.
Yearly screening is recommended even if your dog has been receiving prevention. Break-through infections can occur, from missed or late doses of prevention, or out of season exposure when your dog was not receiving prevention. Often the early stages of these infections are often without symptoms, or can have vague symptoms such as fever, lethargy, poor appetite and pain. The 4Dx test is the best way to detect infection prior to the onset or worsening of symptoms.
The 4Dx test can be run in our clinic, with results in 10 minutes.