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

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills is a vet in North Hills, Raleigh, that does heartworm testing for dogs. Most dogs need a heartworm test once a year, even when they take prevention every month. The test is a small blood sample, and it is often run in the clinic's in-house lab while you wait.

Many heartworm tests also screen for exposure to tick-borne diseases at the same time, which matters in North Carolina.

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

Why test for heartworm every year?

At Petfolk North Hills, the yearly test confirms that prevention is working. Doses get missed, spit out or given late, and no product is perfect. Heartworms take months to grow, so an infection can hide until it is advanced. Finding it early makes treatment safer.

North Carolina ranked eighth in the nation for heartworm cases in the American Heartworm Society's 2025 survey. That puts every dog in North Hills and the rest of Raleigh at real risk.

What does the heartworm test check for?

The common in-house test looks for heartworm proteins in the blood. Many versions also check for antibodies to tick-borne infections. That includes ehrlichia, which the NC Division of Public Health says is spread by Lone Star ticks found in North Carolina. Across Petfolk, this combined heartworm and tick-borne disease test is the single most-ordered in-house lab test (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).

A positive result for heartworm is usually confirmed with a second test before treatment starts. A positive tick result means exposure, and the vet will tell you whether more tests or treatment are needed.

I also appreciate the transparent and up front pricing.

Brenna G., Google review

When should my dog be tested?

The vet at Petfolk North Hills usually suggests:

1. Puppies under about 7 months: start prevention, no test needed yet.

2. Puppies at 6 to 7 months, and again 6 months later: a first test once infections would show.

3. Adult dogs: once a year, often at the wellness exam.

4. New dogs with unknown history: a test before starting prevention, then a repeat in 6 months.

5. After missed doses: a test in about 6 months.

Cats are tested less often, because the test works differently in cats. The vet will explain if your cat needs one.

How much does a heartworm test cost?

The heartworm test is priced on its own and is often done at a yearly wellness exam, which starts at $99 at Petfolk North Hills. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

What happens at the visit

The blood draw takes less than a minute. Every Petfolk clinic uses Fear Free handling, so the team uses a gentle hold and plenty of treats. Results from the in-house lab are often ready before you leave. If your dog needs a prevention refill, the on-site pharmacy can usually fill it the same visit.

Bring a note of the prevention your dog takes and the last date given. That helps the vet read the result.

New to Raleigh, or just adopted? If your dog came from a shelter such as the Wake County Animal Center at 820 Beacon Lake Drive, or from a rescue, bring the adoption paperwork. It may list a heartworm test date and result. The vet at Petfolk North Hills uses that date to decide when your dog's next test is due, so you don't pay for a test too soon.

If the test comes back positive

A positive heartworm test is serious but treatable in dogs. The vet at Petfolk North Hills will confirm the result, check how advanced it is, and walk you through treatment, which includes strict rest for several weeks. Some cases are referred for more imaging or care.

If your dog coughs hard, faints or has trouble breathing, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Paragon Park Road in Raleigh.

See also heartworm prevention in North Hills and blood work and lab testing in North Hills.

Book your dog's test

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.