Heartworm Prevention in North Hills, Raleigh, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills is a vet in North Hills, Raleigh, that helps dogs and cats stay on heartworm prevention. Heartworms are long worms that live in the heart and lungs. They spread through mosquito bites, and in North Carolina the vet will almost always suggest prevention all year.

Preventing heartworm is simple. Treating it in a dog is long, costly and hard on the body, and there is no approved treatment for cats.

Call (984) 983-4900 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome.

Does my pet need heartworm prevention all year in Raleigh?

Yes. The American Heartworm Society's 2025 incidence survey ranked North Carolina eighth in the country for heartworm cases. Mosquitoes stay active through long, humid Raleigh summers and on warm spells in fall and winter. One missed month leaves a gap. The vet at Petfolk North Hills suggests year-round prevention for dogs and cats.

What heartworm prevention options are there?

Prevention comes in a few forms. The vet at Petfolk North Hills helps you pick the one that fits your pet and your routine:

• Monthly chewable for dogs. Many also cover fleas, ticks and some intestinal worms in one dose. Across Petfolk, 85% of dog parasite-prevention purchases are Simparica Trio, a monthly chew (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).

• Long-acting injection for dogs. About 6% of Petfolk dog prevention purchases are ProHeart 12, a shot that lasts up to a year.

• Monthly topical for cats. Across Petfolk, 88% of cat parasite-prevention purchases are Revolution Plus, which covers heartworm plus fleas, ticks and some worms.

Ask the team which options are on hand at the North Hills on-site pharmacy and which the vet suggests for your pet.

Indoor cats count too

Usually yes. Mosquitoes get indoors, and cats with heartworm often show no signs until they have sudden breathing trouble. Because there is no approved heartworm treatment for cats, prevention is the only real protection.

And I love that they are super transparent about their pricing and never try to upsale me anything.

Kenzie R., Google review

Do I need a test before starting?

Dogs over about 7 months old should have a heartworm test before starting prevention, and then once a year. Starting prevention in a dog that already has heartworms can cause a reaction, so the vet takes a quick blood sample first, often run in the in-house lab at Petfolk North Hills. See heartworm testing in North Hills.

What does prevention cost?

Cost depends on your pet's weight and the product. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. Prevention is often started at a wellness exam, which starts at $99 at Petfolk North Hills.

Tips to never miss a dose

• Give it on the same date every month, like the 1st.

• Set a phone reminder or use the Petfolk app.

• Weigh your pet at visits, since the dose depends on weight.

• If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember and call the clinic.

Every Petfolk clinic uses Fear Free handling, so the yearly test and any injection are done gently, with treats.

Traveling? Pack enough doses for the whole trip and keep the same monthly date, since a beach week on the North Carolina coast or a cabin in the mountains still has mosquitoes. If your dog boards while you are away, write the dose date on the kennel form.

Signs of heartworm disease

Early heartworm often has no signs. Later signs in dogs include a soft cough, tiring quickly on walks and weight loss. Cats may cough, breathe fast or vomit. If your pet collapses or struggles to breathe, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Paragon Park Road in Raleigh.

Also see flea and tick prevention in North Hills.

Start prevention today

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills is at 631 E Six Forks Rd, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609. Call (984) 983-4900, book online or walk in.

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