Heartworm Prevention in Lakewood, Dallas, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Lakewood is a vet in Lakewood, East Dallas, that helps dogs and cats stay on heartworm prevention all year. One mosquito bite is all it takes to pass heartworm to a pet, and Texas has a lot of mosquitoes.

One chew a month, or one shot a year. That is the whole job, and the vet at Petfolk Lakewood will help you pick the product that fits your pet, your budget and how good you are at remembering a monthly dose.

Call (682) 339-7822 or book a visit online. The clinic is open weekends.

Why is heartworm such a problem in Texas?

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, and our warm, wet weather keeps them around most of the year. In the American Heartworm Society's 2025 incidence survey, Texas topped the list of states for the first time. Lakewood sits right next to White Rock Lake, and standing water near the shore, creeks and backyard flowerpots gives mosquitoes plenty of places to breed.

A cold snap doesn't end it. Mosquitoes come back on the next warm week in January, which is why vets here recommend prevention all 12 months.

What happens if a pet gets heartworm?

The worms grow in the heart and lungs over months. Early on, a dog may show nothing. Later come a soft cough, tiring on walks, weight loss and a swollen belly. Treatment for dogs takes months, needs strict rest and costs much more than prevention.

Cats? Different story. They are not the natural host, so they usually carry only a few worms, but even that can cause breathing trouble and sudden illness. There is no approved heartworm treatment for cats. Prevention is the only protection, and that includes indoor cats, since mosquitoes get inside too.

Which heartworm prevention is right for my dog?

There are two main types, and both work well when given on time:

• A monthly chew that also covers fleas, ticks and some intestinal worms. Across Petfolk, 85% of dog parasite-prevention purchases were Simparica Trio from Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026.

• A yearly injection, for families who'd rather not track a monthly dose. Ask the team if it's an option for your dog. About 6% of dog purchases across Petfolk in the same window were ProHeart 12.

The vet will look at your dog's age, weight, health and lifestyle and help you choose. A dog who swims at the lake and hikes on weekends may need wider coverage than a dog who stays near home.

Getting started

Test first. Most dogs need a negative heartworm test before starting or restarting prevention, because giving prevention to a dog who already carries adult worms can cause a reaction. It's a quick blood test, and the in-house lab often has the answer during the visit. Read more about heartworm testing in Lakewood.

Puppies can start at 8 weeks. Kittens start early too, and the vet sets the first dose by weight.

Everyone was very nice and detail oriented, I appreciate how they listen to me about what was wrong and stayed within my budget.

Kayla W., Google review

Staying on schedule

Missed doses are the most common reason a pet on prevention still gets heartworm. Try these:

1. Give the chew on the same day each month, like the first of the month.

2. Set a phone reminder, or ask the team about reminders.

3. Mark the box with the date you gave each dose.

4. If you are more than a few weeks late, call the clinic. Your dog may need a test before the next dose.

Cost and gentle visits

You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment, and the final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. A wellness exam starts at $99, and the vet can often handle the heartworm test and prevention in the same visit. Fear Free handling keeps the blood draw calm for nervous dogs.

A cough that turns serious

A dog who collapses, coughs up blood or struggles to breathe needs a 24-hour emergency hospital right away. In Lower Greenville, Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) at 4500 North Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75206, is open 24 hours.

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