Heartworm Prevention in Lake Mary, FL, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lake Mary is a vet in Lake Mary, FL, that prescribes heartworm prevention for dogs and cats and keeps it on schedule. Heartworms are parasites spread by mosquito bites that grow in the heart and lungs. In Central Florida's warm, wet climate, the safest plan is prevention every month of the year.

Prevention is one dose a month. Treatment after infection is long, hard on the dog, and not available at all for cats.

Call (689) 400-8901 or book online to start or refill heartworm prevention.

Does my pet need heartworm prevention all year in Florida?

Yes. Mosquitoes in the Lake Mary area are active in every season, with only short breaks in the coolest weeks, and one bite from an infected mosquito is enough. The Petfolk Lake Mary clinic lists mosquito-borne problems among the things it commonly treats. Skipping winter doses leaves gaps.

Year-round dosing also keeps the routine simple: same day every month, no restart dates to remember.

What are my options?

The Petfolk Lake Mary vet will match the product to your pet, their weight and your routine. Common choices:

• Monthly chewables for dogs. Many combine heartworm prevention with flea, tick and intestinal worm control in one treat.

• A long-acting injection for dogs, given at the clinic and lasting up to 12 months, so there is nothing to remember at home.

• Monthly topical (on-the-skin) products for cats and some dogs, which often cover fleas and some worms too.

Across Petfolk, 85% of dog parasite-prevention purchases are Simparica Trio, a monthly chew, and about 6% are ProHeart 12, the yearly injection. For cats, 88% are Revolution Plus, a monthly topical (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026).

Do indoor cats need heartworm prevention?

The vet usually recommends it. Mosquitoes get indoors, especially through screen doors and lanais, and cats can be infected. There is no approved treatment for heartworm in cats, and the first sign can be sudden breathing trouble, so prevention is the only real protection. A topical product that also handles fleas makes it one step instead of two.

Before starting, a test

Dogs 7 months and older need a negative heartworm test before starting prevention, and then a test every year. Giving prevention to a dog who already has adult heartworms can cause a reaction, which is why Petfolk Lake Mary runs a quick in-house blood test first. See heartworm testing in Lake Mary.

Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, and a small blood draw usually takes less than a minute.

Tips to keep it working

1. Give the dose on the same date each month; set a phone reminder.

2. Watch your dog eat the chew, so it doesn't end up under the couch.

3. Weigh your pet at each visit. A growing puppy may need a bigger dose.

4. Dump standing water in yard buckets and plant saucers after summer storms to cut mosquito breeding.

5. If you miss a dose, call the clinic instead of doubling up.

What does prevention cost?

The price depends on the product, your pet's weight and how many months you buy. A heartworm visit at Petfolk Lake Mary usually starts with a wellness exam, which starts at $99. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Warning signs to act on

A dog with a new cough, tiring easily on walks, or weight loss should be checked for heartworm. A cat with sudden breathing trouble or collapse needs a 24-hour emergency hospital such as Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) in Winter Park right away.

Start prevention

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lake Mary is at 222 Wheelhouse Ln, #1110, Lake Mary, FL 32746. Call (689) 400-8901. Pair it with flea and tick prevention in Lake Mary.

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