Heartworm Testing

At Holistic Animal Healing Clinic we are dedicated to the health of your pet. Therefore, we strongly recommend that dogs, even those on regular heartworm protection, be tested for heartworms once a year. We will run this test as part of your pet’s regular wellness exam.

• Running Heartworm Tests to Detect This Potentially Fatal Disease
• Providing Education on Heartworms, Foot-Long Worms That Live in the Heart, Lungs, and Blood Vessels
• Encouraging Monthly Heartworm Treatment

Heartworm disease is very serious, but with early detection, your pet has a great chance of full recovery. Regular testing is important because early heartworm infections show few signs. The test requires a small blood sample, which allows us to identify the presence of heartworm proteins. These proteins, called antigens, are released into the bloodstream by adult, female heartworms. We combine the annual heartworm test with screening for tick disease as well using an in-house 10-minute test.

Your adult dog should be tested for heartworms once per year, during their routine wellness visit. If you have a puppy under seven months old, they should begin heartworm prevention treatment and subsequently be tested for heartworms every six months for a year. After a year, they should be tested for heartworms annually. Dogs older than seven months, who have not been on a heartworm prevention treatment, must be tested before starting prevention treatment. 

Dogs get heartworms when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. Non-infected mosquitoes cannot not pass along heartworms. Heartworms also cannot be spread from dog to dog, dog to cat, nor dog to human.

Yes, as a pet owner, you can prevent your pet from getting heartworms! Preventive medication is extremely effective. During your visit, after your pet has tested negative for heartworms, we will recommend the appropriate preventive treatment.

For more information about heartworm testing and prevention or to make an appointment in Exeter, call us today at 603-772-7387.