Lungworm aware tv advert and website

Just saw a lungworm awareness tv advert ..
They had a link to a website ..looks helpful
http://www.lungworm.co.uk/scripts/pages/en/home.php

bayer runs these campaigns most years now .....

I know they probably want to sell slug and snail killer but its a good way of making people aware ...
To be honest I did not know dogs could get it by eating snails

they want to sell Advocate

but to be fair it is a REAL threat...and it doesnt have to be the slug or snail thats eaten...anything their 'trail' has been left on...even blades of grass

:O.Must move the toys from outside

As long as the vets treated infected dogs are aware of the MDR 1 mutation in herding breeds before prescribing Invermectin or any related drug

defo! and water bowls.

Yeah... there are 2 outside for them ..
Oz loves rain water ...

Is this a serious threat? Or are they just trying to sell us ever more expensive and noxious wormers?

I had never even heard of lungworms raising Selkie, jack and Pharaoh... All of whom have been able to reach ripe old ages without ever contracting them.. Selkie is 14, eats snails like sweeties and has never been treated for nor ever had lungworms.

Do I really want to change my worming regime and go to a more expensive and more chemically harsh wormer for Kismet?

My mum's pup had it (she lives 15 mins down the road), and someone local on a GSD forum I'm on lost their dog to it, so it's a real threat to me.
It's become more rife in the last year or two - I don't think we had it until it came over from France (I think? It's also known as "French heartworm" I believe) a couple of years ago.
I always suggest people speak to their vet about whether there's any cases known in the area and then decide whether their dogs are at risk. My two are constantly grabbing mouthfuls of grass on walks, drinking from puddles, etc. so I feel they're at more risk than some dogs and treat for it regularly.
The problem with lungworm is that by the time you see symptoms, there's a fair bit of damage done to the lungs and the scarring and dead worms in the lungs can cause permanent problems.
Even if you don't want to treat for it year around, I would maybe consider a treatment (two doses of Advocate a month apart, or a 7 day course of Panacur - Milbemax will reduce an infection but not treat it) after "peak season" in slugs.