Why Heartworm Prevention Matters
Heartworms can affect the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Once a dog is infected, treatment can be more complex than prevention, which is why routine testing and year-round prevention are often recommended.
Heartworm prevention can help:
- Protect your dog from mosquito-transmitted heartworm disease
- Support long-term heart and lung health
- Reduce the risk of serious complications
- Keep preventive care consistent
- Identify exposure earlier through routine testing
- Support overall parasite prevention planning
Our team can explain your dog’s risk and help you choose a preventive plan that fits their needs.
How Dogs Get Heartworms
Dogs get heartworms through mosquito bites. If a mosquito bites an infected animal and then bites your dog, heartworm larvae can be transmitted. Over time, those larvae can develop into adult heartworms.
Because mosquitoes can be found in many environments, even dogs who spend most of their time indoors may still be at risk. Prevention is usually much easier than treating advanced heartworm disease.
Signs of Heartworm Disease in Dogs
Some dogs may not show signs right away. As heartworm disease progresses, symptoms may become more noticeable.
Signs may include:
- Coughing
- Low energy
- Exercise intolerance
- Weight loss
- Decreased appetite
- Trouble breathing
- Weakness
- Collapse in severe cases
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, our team can help determine whether heartworm testing, X-rays, bloodwork, or additional diagnostics are recommended.
Heartworm Testing for Dogs
Heartworm testing is used to check whether your dog has been exposed to heartworms. Testing may be recommended as part of routine wellness care, before starting or restarting prevention, or if your dog has missed doses.
Heartworm testing may be recommended for:
- Puppies starting prevention
- Adult dogs on routine prevention
- Dogs who have missed preventive doses
- Newly adopted dogs with unknown history
- Dogs with coughing or low energy
- Dogs who have not been tested recently
Our veterinarians can recommend a testing schedule based on your dog’s age and history.
Heartworm Prevention Options
There are different types of heartworm prevention available. The right option depends on your dog’s health, weight, lifestyle, and your ability to keep up with the recommended schedule.
Our team can discuss prevention options and help you understand:
- How often prevention should be given
- What to do if a dose is missed
- Whether testing is needed before restarting
- How prevention fits with flea and tick control
- Which option may be safest for your dog
Consistency matters. Heartworm prevention works best when given on the schedule recommended by your veterinarian.
Heartworm Prevention for Puppies
Puppies should begin preventive care early, based on veterinary guidance. During puppy visits, our team can discuss heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, deworming, vaccines, nutrition, and overall wellness.
Starting prevention early helps establish healthy routines and protects your puppy as they grow.
Hospital and Mobile Heartworm Care Options
Dog heartworm testing and prevention guidance are available at our Scottsdale animal hospital. In some cases, Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians may also be able to help with wellness exams, bloodwork collection, and prevention discussions at home.
If your dog has symptoms that require X-rays, advanced diagnostics, or closer evaluation, our Scottsdale animal hospital may be recommended.
Schedule Dog Heartworm Testing and Prevention
If your dog is due for heartworm testing, needs prevention, missed a dose, or has an unknown prevention history, our team is here to help.
Scottsdale Animal Hospital & Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians provides dog heartworm testing and prevention guidance for families in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Tempe, and surrounding areas.
