Heartworm Prevention in Grant Park, Atlanta, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Grant Park is a vet in Grant Park, Atlanta, that helps dogs and cats stay protected from heartworm all year. Prevention is a monthly chew, a monthly topical or a shot that lasts 12 months. In Georgia, the vet recommends giving it every month, without a winter break.

Call (470) 256-0274 or book online to start or refill prevention.

Why is heartworm such a risk in Georgia?

Heartworm spreads through mosquito bites. A mosquito bites an infected dog or coyote, picks up baby worms, then passes them to the next pet it bites. Over about six months, those larvae grow into worms up to a foot long in the heart and lungs.

Georgia ranked among the top ten states for heartworm cases in the American Heartworm Society's 2025 survey. Mosquitoes stay active most of the year around Atlanta, and warm spells in winter wake them up again. Standing water after summer storms, in plant saucers, gutters and low spots in yards around Grant Park, gives them plenty of places to breed.

Which heartworm prevention is best for my dog?

The best one is the one you will give on time. The vet will help you choose:

• Monthly chewable: many also cover fleas, ticks and some intestinal worms in one dose. Across Petfolk from October 2025 to September 2026, 85% of dog parasite-prevention purchases were Simparica Trio, a chew of this type.

• Yearly injection: ProHeart 12 is given by the vet once a year, so there is no monthly dose to forget. It made up about 6% of dog prevention purchases across Petfolk in that period.

• Monthly topical: a liquid on the skin, an option for some pets who won't take chews.

The vet weighs your dog, since doses go by weight, and talks through what else each product covers. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Does my dog need a heartworm test first?

Yes. Dogs 7 months and older need a negative heartworm test before starting prevention, and once a year after that. Giving prevention to a dog who already has adult heartworms can make them sick, and the test also catches a dose that didn't work. Puppies under 7 months can start prevention right away and are tested later.

Do cats need heartworm prevention?

Yes, even indoor cats, because mosquitoes get inside. Cats are not a natural host, so they usually carry only a few worms, but even one can cause breathing problems that look like asthma. There is no approved treatment for heartworm in cats, so prevention is the only protection. Monthly topicals made for cats work well, and many also cover fleas.

Making the monthly dose easy

• Give it on the same date each month, like the first, and set a phone reminder.

• Give chews with food and watch your dog eat the whole thing.

• If you're late by a few days, give the dose now and call the clinic about whether a test is needed later.

• Buy a 6 or 12 month supply so you don't run out.

Prevention stays important when you travel, board your dog or spend weekends at the lake.

Why skipping costs more

Treating heartworm in a dog takes months. It means a series of injections, strict rest with no running or play, and repeat tests to make sure every worm is gone. A dog who has been through it may also live with lasting heart and lung changes. Compared with that, a monthly chew or a yearly shot is small, simple and much easier on your dog.

Planning prevention with other visits

Starting or refilling heartworm prevention at a yearly wellness exam means the test and the exam happen in one trip. Gentle, Fear Free handling keeps the blood draw and weigh-in calm.

Warning signs of heartworm disease

Early heartworm often shows no signs. Later, dogs may cough, tire on walks, lose weight or breathe fast. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet collapses, has trouble breathing or has pale gums. MedVet Atlanta on Century Circle NE takes emergencies without an appointment.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Grant Park, or see all veterinary services in Grant Park.