Dogs and cats in Concord need heartworm prevention every month of the year, because mosquitoes carry the parasite and North Carolina ranks among the top ten states for heartworm. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord is a vet clinic in Concord, North Carolina, that helps you choose a preventive your household will keep up with: a monthly chew, a monthly topical or a once-a-year injection.
Heartworms are long, thin worms that live in the heart and the large blood vessels of the lungs. A mosquito picks up tiny larvae from an infected dog, fox or coyote and passes them to the next pet it bites. Prevention stops the larvae before they grow. Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.
How common is heartworm around Concord?
North Carolina and South Carolina both ranked in the top ten states for heartworm in the American Heartworm Society's 2025 incidence survey, and the society named the central Carolinas a new hot spot (AHS, May 2026). In Cabarrus County, about 1 in 200 dogs tested in 2025 was positive (0.72%, Companion Animal Parasite Council data). Warm, humid places where mosquitoes stay active see the most infections, and Concord fits that for much of the year.
One chew covers most Concord dogs
A monthly chew that covers heartworm, fleas and ticks was 86% of dog parasite-prevention purchases at Petfolk Concord from October 2025 to September 2026, and about 5% were a once-a-year injection given at the clinic. About 6 in 10 Petfolk Concord puppy wellness visits (61%) ended with prevention going home.
Chew, topical or shot
Every option works when given on time.
Monthly chewable. A flavored tablet every month, a good fit for dogs that take treats easily. Some versions add intestinal worms, fleas or ticks.
Monthly topical. A liquid on the skin at the back of the neck, a good fit for cats and for dogs that refuse chews.
Injectable. A shot every 6 or 12 months, by product, for families who forget monthly doses.
Cat chew or topical. Given monthly, often with flea and intestinal worm protection.
Preventives are dosed by weight band, so a growing puppy needs the next size up. Never split a dog preventive for a cat, and ask before stacking two products with the same ingredient.
Does my dog need heartworm prevention in winter in North Carolina?
Yes. The AHS advises giving heartworm medication year-round and on time, plus a yearly heartworm test for all dogs. Monthly preventives work backward: each dose clears larvae picked up over the previous weeks. A pet that stops in October and restarts in April has no cover on warm winter days.
A test comes before the first dose
Dogs need a negative heartworm test before starting prevention and once a year after that, because preventives don't kill adult worms and giving them to an infected dog can cause a reaction. The heartworm testing page explains the blood test. Gentle Handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, so the blood draw is quick and calm.
Do indoor cats need heartworm prevention?
Yes. Cats tend to carry only a few worms, but even a few can cause breathing problems that look like asthma, and there is no approved drug to treat heartworm in cats. Mosquitoes come through doors and torn screens in any Concord home.
Missed a dose? Give it as soon as you remember and call (980) 360-2922. The vet will tell you whether your pet needs a test in a few months.
Prevention usually starts at a wellness exam that starts at $99, or is included with PetfolkCare, and the preventive is priced by product and weight. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.
A dog with known heartworm disease that suddenly collapses, coughs up blood or breathes hard needs a 24-hour emergency hospital right away. Petfolk Concord is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and doesn't provide overnight care.
Start year-round heartworm cover in Concord
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord is at 2425 Herrons Nest Pl NW, Suite 100, Concord, NC 28027. Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.
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Heartworm prevention, the short answers
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