National Heartworm Awareness Month

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month. Heartworm is serious and potentially fatal for dogs and cats, but is almost 100% preventable! A cat or dog develops heartworm disease when they are bitten by an infected mosquito and parasitic worms are transmitted. Even indoor dogs and cats can be infected.

Our technicians will perform a heartworm test at your dog's annual wellness exam at Winterville Animal Clinic. If the test is negative, your veterinarian will prescribe monthly preventative heartworm chewables or topical, or a 12-month ProHeart injection. If the test is positive, treatment options will be discussed. Cats will also have a heartworm test before beginning monthly chewable or topical preventative medication.

Why is heartworm prevention so important? Heartworm treatment is long and expensive for dogs. Testing is hard for cats and prevention is key. 

If you are near Athens, Georgia, book an appointment at Winterville Animal Clinic today to begin heartworm prevention for your cat or dog in order to help them enjoy a healthy and happy life  - free of heartworm disease!