Heartworm Prevention: Use it Year-Round the Best Protection

Heartworm disease is a serious, potentially fatal condition that affects dogs, cats, and even ferrets. Many pet owners think of it as a summer problem, but the truth is heartworm prevention is needed year-round.

As the weather warms up in in the early spring, mosquitoes become more active—bringing an increased risk of heartworm infection.

The best way to protect your pet? Use prevention year-round. Here’s why now is the perfect time to make sure your pet is protected.

What Is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is caused by parasitic worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected animals. It’s transmitted through mosquito bites—when an infected mosquito bites your pet, tiny heartworm larvae enter the bloodstream. Over time, these worms grow, multiply, and cause serious health problems, including:

🐾 Coughing & difficulty breathing

🐾 Lethargy & exercise intolerance

🐾 Heart failure & lung disease

🐾 Organ damage (if left untreated, heartworms can cause severe complications, including death)

Once a pet is infected, treatment is costly, difficult, and risk: which is why prevention is essential.

Keep on Prevention - No Matter the Weather

Many pet owners believe heartworm prevention is only necessary during summer, but that’s a dangerous misconception. Here’s why year-round prevention is key:

🦟 Mosquito season starts earlier than you think – In many areas, mosquitoes become active in late winter or early spring, even when temperatures are still cool. Just one infected mosquito can transmit heartworm disease. This is why year-round protection is necessary. We cannot determine when the temperature is high enough for mosquitos to become active.

🦟 Prevention takes time to be effective – Heartworm preventatives don’t kill adult worms; they stop larvae from developing into adults. Prevention eliminates any larvae that may have been picked up before mosquito season peaks.

🦟 Skipping doses increases risk – If a pet misses even one dose of heartworm prevention, they’re at risk. Year-round prevention ensures your pet is protected before exposure increases.

🦟 Indoor pets are still at risk – Mosquitoes easily get indoors, meaning even cats and dogs who spend most of their time inside can still be infected.

How to Protect Your Pet from Heartworm Disease

The good news? Heartworm disease is often preventable with the right care. Here’s how to keep your pet safe:

1. Keep Up with Monthly Prevention

💊 Give heartworm prevention on time, every month—year-round. There are several options, including:

✔ Chewable tablets (given monthly)

✔ Topical treatments (applied to the skin)

✔ Injectable preventatives (given by your vet every 6 or 12 months)

Never stop prevention in winter—mosquitoes are unpredictable, and skipping even one month leaves your pet vulnerable.

2. Schedule Annual Heartworm Testing

Even pets on year-round prevention should get yearly heartworm tests. This simple blood test detects infection early, before symptoms appear. People sometimes ask, "why do we have to test every year if my pet is protected year-round?" The answer is that no drug is 100% effective, in all scenarios. For example, perhaps your dog didn't eat the heartworm chew like you thought, or maybe the medicine wasn’t absorbed properly. This situations are rare - but they can (and do) occur.

If a pet tests positive, your vet can discuss treatment options. Additionally, if your pet can be proven to be on year-round prevention and does test positive for heartworm, many companies will cover the cost of treatment. 

3. Reduce Mosquito Exposure

🦟 Use pet-safe mosquito repellents (ask your vet for recommendations)

🦟 Keep windows & doors closed or use screens

🦟 Remove standing water (like puddles or birdbaths, where mosquitoes breed)

4. Protect Cats, Too!

Many people think only dogs get heartworms, but cats can be infected as well. There’s no approved heartworm treatment for cats, so prevention is critical for keeping them safe.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait—Start Prevention Now…and Keep Them On It, Year-Round 

Heartworm disease is easy to prevent but difficult to treat.

By starting preventative care now - and keeping up with it, all year round, you can ensure your pet is protected as best as they can be.

💛 Not sure if your pet is up to date on heartworm prevention? Give us a call at (440) 234-7773 to schedule a heartworm test or refill your pet’s prevention. A simple step today could save your pet’s life in the future!