Heartworm Testing in Sandy Springs, GA, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is a vet in Sandy Springs, GA, that tests dogs for heartworm with a quick blood test, run in the in-house lab. Most dogs need one test a year, even when they take prevention every month.

The test needs only a few drops of blood. Results are usually ready during your visit, so you can start or refill prevention before you leave instead of making a second trip.

Call (678) 673-3977, book online or walk in.

Why does my dog need a test if it takes prevention?

At Petfolk Sandy Springs, the yearly test checks that prevention is working. Doses get missed, a dog may spit out a chew or vomit it later, and no product is perfect. Catching an infection early makes treatment simpler and safer. Dogs also need a current negative test before starting or restarting prevention, because giving prevention to an infected dog can cause a reaction.

What does the test check?

The common in-house test looks for heartworm in a small blood sample and, in the same test, for signs of exposure to tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichia and anaplasma. Across Petfolk, this heartworm and tick-borne disease test is the single most-ordered in-house lab test (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026).

Tick-borne results matter in Sandy Springs, where many dogs walk the wooded Chattahoochee River trails. A positive result means exposure, not always illness, and the vet will explain what to do next. Some exposed dogs need only a recheck; others need a follow-up blood test or a course of antibiotics.

How the test works

1. A team member draws a small amount of blood, usually from a leg. Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic.

2. The sample runs in the in-house lab for about ten minutes.

3. The vet reviews the result with you before you leave.

4. If positive, a second test confirms it before any treatment.

Timing the test

At Petfolk Sandy Springs, most dogs are tested once a year, usually at the wellness exam. Puppies can start prevention before 7 months of age without a test, then get their first test about six months later. A dog that missed doses, switched products or came from a shelter should be tested now and again in about six months, because a recent infection can take months to show.

Do cats get tested for heartworm?

Cats can be tested, but heartworm is harder to find in cats, and a normal test doesn't always rule it out. Cats are usually tested when they have signs like coughing, breathing trouble or vomiting. Because there is no approved treatment for cats, monthly prevention is the main protection.

If the test is positive

A positive result is serious but treatable in dogs. The vet will confirm it with a second test, check the heart and lungs, and walk you through a treatment plan that follows American Heartworm Society guidance. Treatment takes months and needs strict rest, so starting early matters. Then the focus shifts to heartworm prevention in Sandy Springs to stop it happening again.

What does a heartworm test cost?

The test is priced separately and is often done at the yearly wellness exam, which starts at $99 at Petfolk Sandy Springs. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Breathing trouble or collapse

A dog that collapses, struggles to breathe or coughs up blood needs a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Abernathy Rd NE. Don't wait for a test appointment.

Book the yearly test

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is at 6223 Roswell Rd, 365A, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Call (678) 673-3977, or ask for the test at your dog's next checkup.

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