Health
Heartworm in Dogs: Why Year-Round Prevention Matters in the US
One bite is all it takes
Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and has been diagnosed in all 50 states, with the Southeast and Mississippi River valley hit hardest. Adult worms live in the heart and lungs and cause lasting damage — treatment is expensive, hard on the dog, and far worse than prevention.
Prevention is simple
Monthly chewables, topicals, or an injection every 6–12 months from your vet all work extremely well when given consistently. Most vets recommend year-round prevention — 'mosquito season' keeps getting longer, and indoor dogs get bitten too.
Annual testing still matters
Even dogs on prevention should be tested yearly with a quick blood test. A missed or vomited dose can leave a gap, and catching infection early makes treatment far safer.
Cats get it too
There's no approved treatment for heartworm in cats, which makes monthly prevention the only real protection — worth discussing with your vet, especially in mosquito-heavy states.
If the day is coming
Ease The Paw coordinates in-home pet euthanasia across South Africa — we find and book the vet, arrange the cremation and handle the keepsakes, so you can simply be present. A flat R950 covers the coordination and your keepsake memorial; the vet and cremation are billed separately at their own rates.
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