Heartworm Testing Guideline
Heartworm testing guideline for dogs
Adult dogs who have been on heartworm prevention should have heartworm testing once a year. This is usually done during your dog’s annual veterinary visit.
Adult dogs over 6 months of age that have not been on heartworm prevention will need to be tested first before starting heartworm prevention and tested again in 6 months, then yearly thereafter.
Puppies less than 6 months of age do not need to have heartworm testing because it takes 6months for a dog to test positive but should be tested again in 6 months and yearly thereafter.
American Heartworm Association recommends that your pet receive heartworm prevention every single month even in the winter months. In our area, we rarely have freezing weather, so mosquitos can still be present. It is not worth taking the risk by trying to skip a few months and expose your pets to this serious disease.
Annual heartworm testing is needed even if you give your pet monthly heartworm prevention for the following reasons:
Heartworm prevention is very effective but no prevention is 100%. If you miss doses, your pet will be unprotected.
Your pet may spit out the medication and you may not notice, or your pet may vomit the pill. Topical prevention could be rubbed off if your pet swims or if you
bathe before it is fully absorbed.
If you don’t do a heartworm test, you will never know if your dog needs heartworm treatment.
treatment.
Heartworm testing guideline for cats
Cats just like dogs should be tested before starting heartworm prevention. Because cats that are infected with heartworm disease cannot be treated, prevention is the key. Even indoor cats can be bitten by a mosquito and get heartworm disease. Don’t think that an indoor cat is protected. Mosquitos come in the house and bite humans so they can bite your cat also.
Download the American Heartworm Society Guideline for the management of feline heartworm in cats!
At Vetsavers Pet Hospital we follow the American Heartworm Association guideline for heartworm treatment to ensure your pet will get the best possible care and successful outcome.
Download the American Heartworm Association Guideline for heartworm treatment today!