Heartworm Medication in North Dallas, TX

Recognizing When Your Dog Needs a Heartworm Test

Every dog needs a heartworm test before starting or renewing heartworm medication. That's the rule, not the exception. Giving heartworm medication to a dog who already has an active infection can cause a serious reaction, so the test always comes first.

A few situations call for testing: your dog is due for their annual wellness exam, you're starting heartworm medication for the first time, a dose was missed or given more than a couple weeks late, or your dog is switching to a different prevention product.

Deciding on the Right Prevention Product

Chewable, topical, or a six-month injection. That's the real choice you're making, and it's less about brand and more about your pet's life. A dog who spends weekends at the lake needs something that won't wash off. Age and weight matter too, so we weigh your pet at every visit.

Missed doses are the other piece of this. Life gets busy, and gaps are exactly when mosquitoes get their shot in. If you've missed a dose or you're not sure your pet's current product still fits their weight, that's worth a conversation, not a guess.

The Testing Visit and Where to Go

We start with a quick chat about your dog's history, then a small blood sample from the leg. Results usually come back the same visit through our in-house lab. If your puppy is younger than 7 months old, the American Heartworm Society doesn't require a blood test before starting prevention.

Our North Dallas care center at 17062 Preston Rd Suite 104 runs same-visit heartworm testing and prescriptions.