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

A heartworm test is a small blood sample that checks for adult heartworms in your dog. At Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Missouri City, the test runs in the clinic's in-house lab, so you often get the answer during the same visit. Many in-house tests also screen for tick-borne diseases like ehrlichiosis, Lyme and anaplasmosis.

Dogs need a heartworm test once a year and before starting prevention. Texas ranked first in the nation for heartworm in the American Heartworm Society's 2025-data survey, so the yearly test matters here. A vet in Missouri City can draw it in a minute, often during a wellness exam.

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

Why test a dog that's already on prevention?

No prevention is perfect. A chew can be spit out behind the couch, a dose can be late, or a dog can gain weight and outgrow the dose. The yearly test catches an infection early, when treatment is simpler.

Across Petfolk, our in-house heartworm and tick-borne disease test was the single most-ordered in-house lab test between Oct 1, 2025 and Sep 30, 2026.

When should my dog be tested?

• Every year, at the wellness visit

• Before starting heartworm prevention, or switching products

• About six months after a missed or late dose

• Puppies: the test can't find heartworms until about 6 to 7 months after infection, so most puppies under 7 months start prevention without a test, then get tested later

Only about 1 in 16 puppy wellness visits at our Houston-area clinics included a heartworm test over that same year, which fits that timing.

What happens if the test is positive?

Don't panic. Heartworm in dogs is treatable. The vet will usually confirm the result with a second test and may suggest x-rays or blood work to see how the heart and lungs are doing. Treatment takes several months and needs strict rest, because dead worms can block blood vessels if the dog runs around.

The vet will walk you through every step and the cost before you decide.

The communication was on point, I was kept in the loop the entire visit.

Diarra M., Google review

Do cats need heartworm tests?

Cats are tested differently. Feline heartworm is harder to find on a blood test, and there's no approved drug to treat it, so the focus is on prevention. A cat with coughing or breathing trouble may need blood tests and x-rays to look for it.

Tick-borne disease and Missouri City dogs

Ticks are active year-round in Texas, with a peak in summer. Texas A&M's Tick App notes the brown dog tick lives mainly around homes and kennels and can carry Ehrlichia canis. A positive tick result doesn't always mean your dog is sick, but the vet may suggest more blood work to check.

Test costs

The test is added to your visit. A wellness exam at Petfolk Missouri City 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.

Fear Free handling keeps the blood draw quick, often with a lick mat or treats.

Signs that need help fast

A dog with heartworm that collapses, has pale gums, or breathes hard at rest needs a 24-hour emergency hospital such as VEG on University Blvd in Sugar Land. A new cough or tiring on walks deserves a visit soon.

Book the test

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

Bring the name of the prevention your dog takes and the date of the last dose. A photo of the box works. If your dog came from a shelter or another clinic, bring those records too, so the vet can see when the last test was done.

If your dog spends time in tall grass, at a boarding kennel or on Gulf Coast hikes, tell the team. That helps the vet decide if the tick part of the result needs a closer look. Most dogs are in and out in one short visit, and you'll leave knowing the next test date.

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