Heartworm Disease: Prevention Tips for Your Pup

As you try to enjoy every last bit of nice weather that you can before winter, don’t hesitate to bring your furry best friend right along with you. However, to make sure your pup stays happy and healthy, it’s important to also be aware of the risks and prevention methods for Heartworm Disease when letting your dog explore the outdoors. These four tips will help to arm you against Heartworm disease and keep your pup’s tail wagging for years to come!

1. Dogs Don’t Just Need Prevention During Warm-Weather Months

Heartworm preventatives work by treating heartworms that already infected the pet within the last month or more, so stopping treatment when it gets cold outside could leave your pup at risk.

2. Visit Your Veterinarian Regularly

Don’t hesitate to schedule your furry best friend for their annual checkup right here at AVC. Performing routine checks for Heartworm Disease is the first line of defense.

3. Use Preventative Medication

There is a large variety of preventative products that you can use on your pet to prevent mosquitos and Heartworm disease. Be sure to consult your veterinarian prior to giving the preventative product.

4. Fight Bugs in Your Home and Backyard

Though it might not be obvious, mosquitos can breed in small amounts of stagnant water, which can exist in multiple places around the house (flowerpots, gutters, buckets). By reducing the chance  for mosquitos to breed in or around your home and using pet-friendly insecticide spray in your yard, you can greatly reduce the risk of your pet contracting Heartworm Disease.

Do you have questions or want to learn more about how to prevent Heartworm Disease in your pet? Give us a call or schedule an appointment today!