Heartworm Testing in Kennesaw, GA, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Kennesaw is a vet in Kennesaw, GA, that tests dogs for heartworm with a small blood sample run in the clinic's own lab. Most dogs should be tested once a year, even if they take prevention every month. Results are often ready before you leave.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes. A dog can carry the worms for months with no signs at all, which is why a test matters more than how your dog looks.

Call (770) 404-8937 or book a heartworm test online.

Why test every year if my dog takes prevention?

Prevention works very well, but only when every dose lands on time. A late pill, a dose spit out in the yard, or a skipped month in winter can leave a gap. The yearly test catches an infection early, while treatment is simpler.

Georgia ranks among the top ten states for heartworm cases in the American Heartworm Society's 2025 survey. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water, like a clogged gutter or a forgotten flowerpot saucer, and they can bite on warm days in any season.

Testing is also needed before starting or restarting prevention. Read more on heartworm prevention in Kennesaw.

How does the heartworm test work?

The team draws a few drops of blood from a leg vein. The sample runs on an in-house test that looks for heartworm and several tick-borne diseases at once. Across Petfolk, this combined heartworm and tick test is the in-house lab test ordered most often (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026).

The tick part matters here. The Kennesaw clinic page lists ticks among the pests common in Georgia, and the same blood sample can show whether your dog has been exposed to some tick-borne diseases.

When should a puppy get a first test?

Puppies can start prevention young, before a test would show anything. Heartworms take about six months to grow to a stage the test can find. So the vet usually tests puppies from about 7 months old, then once a year after that.

Gentle handling for the blood draw

The draw takes about a minute. The team uses Fear Free handling: a calm hold, a soft mat, and treats when the vet allows. If your dog gets nervous at the vet, say so when you book.

He did very well with them and remained very calm during his vaccinations, bloodwork, and urine sample.

Katie W., Google review

Bring your records

If your dog was tested or got prevention somewhere else, bring the paperwork or a photo of it. The vet needs the date of the last negative test, the product name, and the month of the last dose. That tells the vet whether a gap is likely and when the next test should be. Dogs adopted from a shelter or a rescue often come with a test date in their papers, so check the folder before you come in.

What a positive result means

A positive test is not the end of the road, but it does change the plan. The vet will usually run a second test to confirm, then may suggest x-rays to see how the heart and lungs look. Treatment takes several months and needs strict rest. Your dog will skip the dog park and trail hikes until the vet says it's safe.

Cats are tested differently, and the results are harder to read. Ask the vet if your cat goes outdoors or has a cough.

Test estimates and timing

Many Kennesaw families book the test with the yearly checkup. A wellness exam at Petfolk Kennesaw starts at $99, and the test is added to that visit. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Signs that need help right away

A dog with heavy heartworm disease can suddenly collapse, breathe very hard or pass dark red urine. Those signs need care at once. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital, such as VEG at 1290 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta.

Get your dog tested

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Kennesaw is at 1155 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW, Suite 204, Kennesaw, GA 30144, with free parking. Call (770) 404-8937 or book online.

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