Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm is far easier to prevent than to treat, and for cats there's no approved treatment at all. That's why we recommend prevention every month of the year for dogs and cats. Choose the right product with the team at our Midlothian clinic, on Steam Avenue just off Midlothian Turnpike, open seven days a week.
Call (804) 603-9509 or book a wellness exam online.
When it's an emergency: Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if a dog suddenly collapses, has pale gums, or is breathing hard, or if a cat has sudden trouble breathing, collapses, or has a seizure. Advanced heartworm disease can cause sudden crises. Our Midlothian clinic is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.
Why Cats Need It Too
Cats aren't a natural host, so most worms die before they reach adulthood. That doesn't make cats safe. Immature worms can inflame the lungs and blood vessels, a condition called heartworm-associated respiratory disease, which can look like asthma.
Feline veterinarians note that there are no approved medications to treat heartworm in cats, and that one in four feline cases is in a cat that lives indoors. For dogs, prevention spares them months of treatment and strict rest. For cats, prevention is the only protection.
Year-Round, Not Seasonal
Preventives work backward: each dose kills larvae picked up in the weeks before it. Stopping for winter leaves gaps on warm days, and restarting means testing first. A dose on the same day every month is also easier to remember, which is how most missed doses are avoided.
Doses get missed in ordinary ways:
A chew spit out behind the couch.
A topical washed off by a bath or a swim.
A refill that ran out during a busy month.
Choosing a Product
The doctor chooses based on species, weight, age, and what else you want covered. Options include monthly chewables and topicals, and some combination products also cover fleas, ticks, or intestinal worms. Dog products can be dangerous for cats, so never share between species.
Dogs need a negative heartworm test before starting or restarting prevention. The test itself, and what a positive result means, is handled at a heartworm testing visit.
"Very efficient and thorough exam for my dog today and very fair pricing."
— Gordon M., Petfolk client.
When You Don't Need a New Visit
If your dog tested negative this year, has a current exam on file, and needs more of the same product, you usually don't need a separate appointment; ask about a refill. Book a visit when you're changing products, after missed doses, or when the annual test or exam is due.
The Mosquito in Your Midlothian Backyard
A mosquito many Chesterfield County yards contend with is the Asian tiger mosquito, a day-biter that breeds in small containers of water. Virginia Tech Extension's main advice is to empty anything that holds water once a week. Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality lists dog heartworm among the mosquito-borne diseases found in the state.
Plant saucers, buckets, and kids' toys.
Tarps and grill covers that pool rain.
Clogged gutters.
The dog's outdoor water bowl: refill it daily.
Fewer mosquitoes means fewer chances, but it doesn't replace the monthly dose. One bite from an infected mosquito is enough.
What Heartworm Prevention Costs
Prevention is prescribed at a wellness exam: $99, or included with PetfolkCare ($199 a year). The dog heartworm test is priced separately. The preventive's cost depends mostly on your pet's weight and whether it's a combination product, and PetfolkCare members get 10% off flea, tick, and heartworm preventives. You get an estimate before anything is done.
Keep Every Month Covered
Bring your dog or cat in for a wellness exam and leave with a product chosen for them and a schedule that's easy to keep. Reminders arrive through the Petfolk app. Call (804) 603-9509 or book online.