When does heartworm season start?
Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoe bite.  As the spring starts to take hold, we see the mosquitoes buzzing along.  Traditionally, heartworm "season" is from April until after the first solid frost in November or December.  However, mosquitoes can survive cold months and may pose risk year round.

When does my dog start heartworm preventative?
We recommend healthy pets start on heartworm prevention as youngsters on a year round basis.  The chewable, treat-like preventive is given once a month.  We recommend giving it on the same day of each month.  We find that the first of every month is easy to remember.  The preventive we use here at Overland Animal Hospital helps to protect against (Dirofilaria immitis) heartworm disease and controls roundworm (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum) and whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) in dogs and cats.  We also ask you to bring in a small fresh stool sample to test for intestinal parasites.

Does my dog need a test before starting?
We do blood test dogs and cats over 8 months of age before starting heartworm preventive.  This is helpful to detect heartworm disease at its earliest state.  It is potentially risky to skip the test before medication is given.  The test must be done annually thereafter to avoid missing proper diagnostic and treatment of disease.  It may be most convenient for you to do blood testing at your pet's annual physical exam.  Please ask about our Summer coupon specials on heartworm testing and preventive!

Do puppies need heartworm testing?
If a puppy is under eight months of age, it can be started on heartworm preventive without testing.  Due to their growing size, some puppies may need to be weighed each month for accurate dosing.

Can I keep my dog on heartworm year round?
Clients do find it easier to give their dog's medication every month. Here at Overland Animal Hospital, we recommend keeping your pet on the prevention year around.

Can some dogs get sick from heartworm preventative?
Although uncommon, some dogs may experience vomiting or diarrhea after taking the heartworm preventive.  In rare cases, it may be due to the flavoring that is in the chewable form.  A change to the tablet can easy resolve that.  In rare instances, dogs that have epilepsy may not be able to take heartworm preventative due to seizure interaction.  We do believe in the safety of your pet's heartworm preventive.

Do cats take heartworm preventative?
Yes.  Though not as common a disease in cats, a treatment does not exist for a cat infected with heartworm disease.  Prevention for outdoor cats should be considered due to risk of exposure.

What does the test look for?
The heartworm test is a blood antigen test that looks for evidence of adult heartworm.

Can heartworm be treated?
In the majority of cases, heartworm can be treated with injections of an arsenic based product that can be given here at Overland Animal Hospital.  Each patient is evaluated based on their age, symptoms (if any), as well as if they have any other health problems.  Some cases may require other types of treatment depending on the individual patient.  This treatment for heartworm is severe and expensive so prevention is the best recommended course of action.