Heartworm Prevention in Missouri City, TX, From Your Local Vet

Heartworm prevention is a medicine your dog or cat takes every month, or a shot your dog gets once or twice a year, that kills young heartworm larvae before they can grow. In Missouri City, it should run all 12 months. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Missouri City can test your dog, pick the right product and send it home the same day from the on-site pharmacy.

Texas ranked first in the nation for heartworm in the American Heartworm Society's survey of 2025 test data. If you're looking for a vet in Missouri City to set up prevention, it takes one short visit.

Call (832) 225-3315 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome.

How do pets get heartworms?

Mosquitoes spread them. A mosquito bites an infected dog, coyote or fox, picks up tiny larvae, then passes them to the next pet it bites. Over about six months the larvae grow into foot-long worms that live in the heart and lungs.

Missouri City sprays for mosquitoes from May until early November and treats standing water as needed, and Fort Bend County traps mosquitoes where West Nile or high counts are a concern. That helps, but it doesn't stop every mosquito. Gulf Coast winters rarely get cold enough, long enough, to end mosquito season for good.

Why should prevention run all year here?

Heartworm medicine works backward. It kills larvae your pet picked up over the past month. A missed dose in a warm December can leave a gap, and a few warm days are all a mosquito needs. Year-round dosing is also easier to remember.

Many products also cover fleas, ticks and intestinal worms. At our Houston-area clinics, about 9 in 10 dog parasite-prevention purchases between Oct 1, 2025 and Sep 30, 2026 were Simparica Trio, a monthly chew that covers heartworm, fleas, ticks and some worms.

Which heartworm prevention is best for my pet?

It depends on your pet and your routine. Common options:

• Monthly chews for dogs, often combined with flea and tick protection

• Monthly topicals for cats, and some for dogs

• A yearly or six-month injection for dogs, so you don't have to remember a monthly dose

Ask the team which forms are in stock and what fits your pet's weight and lifestyle. The vet also checks your pet's weight at each visit, because a dose for the wrong size may not protect.

Do cats need heartworm prevention?

Yes. Cats get heartworm too, and indoor cats aren't safe from mosquitoes that slip in through doors. In cats, even one or two worms can cause coughing, vomiting and breathing trouble, and there's no approved treatment to kill heartworms in cats. Prevention is the only protection.

About 4 in 10 wellness visits for adult cats at our Houston-area clinics sent parasite prevention home over that same year.

Test first for dogs

Dogs need a heartworm test before starting prevention, and once a year after. Starting prevention on a dog that already has heartworms can cause a serious reaction. The test is a few drops of blood, and results come back during the visit.

They took care of my dog displaying compassion and kindness.

Diarra M., Google review

Fear Free handling makes the blood draw quick and calm, often with a treat in front of your dog the whole time.

Heartworm prevention pricing

The price depends on the product and your pet's weight. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. Prevention costs far less than treating heartworm disease. PetfolkCare membership starts at $199 a year and includes savings on every visit.

Signs of heartworm disease

Early heartworm often shows no signs. Later, dogs may cough, tire on walks or lose weight. Sudden collapse, very pale gums or trouble breathing needs a 24-hour emergency hospital such as VEG on University Blvd in Sugar Land.

Start prevention

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Missouri City is at 8225 Hwy 6, Suite 300, Missouri City, TX 77459. Call (832) 225-3315.

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