Protecting Your Pet’s Heart, Health, and Happiness
Heartworm disease is one of the most serious and potentially fatal conditions affecting dogs—but the good news is that it’s entirely preventable. At our hospital, we strongly recommend year-round heartworm prevention for every dog, regardless of lifestyle or season. Consistent protection is the key to keeping your pet safe, healthy, and heartworm-free.
What Is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm transmitted through mosquito bites. When an infected mosquito bites your dog, microscopic larvae enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart and lungs.
Over several months, these larvae mature into adult worms—growing up to a foot long—and cause serious damage to the:
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Heart
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Lungs
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Blood vessels
If left untreated, heartworm disease can lead to:
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Heart failure
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Severe lung disease
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Organ damage
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Death in advanced cases
Treatment is difficult, costly, and hard on your dog’s body—which is why prevention is always the better choice.
Why Heartworm Prevention Should Be Year-Round
Many pet owners believe heartworm prevention is only necessary during warmer months. However:
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Mosquitoes can survive indoors and during unexpected warm spells.
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Just one missed dose can allow heartworm larvae to mature into adults.
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Preventive medications work by killing larvae from the previous month—if doses are skipped, those larvae are no longer affected.
Year-round prevention ensures:
✔ Continuous protection
✔ No gaps in coverage
✔ Peace of mind for you and your pet
Prevention Is Safe, Simple, and Affordable
Modern heartworm preventives are:
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Safe and veterinarian-approved
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Easy to give — chewables, topicals, or injections
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Cost-effective compared to treatment
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Often combined with protection against roundworms, hookworms, fleas, or ticks
When compared to the risks and expense of treating heartworm disease, prevention is a small investment in your dog’s lifelong health.
Annual Exams and Heartworm Testing Are Required
To keep your dog safe and follow veterinary medical standards, dogs must be current on a physical exam within the past 12 months before heartworm prevention can be prescribed or refilled.
During these annual visits, your veterinarian will:
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✅ Confirm your dog is healthy enough for preventives
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✅ Perform a heartworm test to ensure they are parasite-free
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✅ Adjust prevention plans as your dog’s needs change
Even with preventive medication, no product is 100% guaranteed, which is why yearly testing is so important.
Keep Your Dog Protected All Year Long
Heartworm prevention is one of the simplest—and most important—ways to care for your dog. By:
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Giving prevention monthly
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Staying current on their annual exam
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Completing yearly heartworm testing
…you’re ensuring your dog stays healthy, active, and by your side for years to come.
Schedule Today
If your dog is due for an exam or heartworm prevention refill, give us a call today or schedule an appointment. Together, we’ll keep your pet’s heart strong—365 days a year.