A: This disease affects dogs and occurs when an infected mosquito bites your dog. The mosquito passes infective heartworm larvae that then mature into adult male and female worms that live inside the major blood vessels in your dog's lungs, and in the heart. It takes approximately 6-7 months for the worms to mature. The young adult and adult worms cause damage to the blood vessels that can lead to severe lung disease and heart failure.

A: You can help protect your dog from heartworm disease by giving a heartworm preventive prescribed by your veterinarian. It is important to follow the directions from your veterinarian and the product label. Your veterinarian will need to perform a simple blood test before starting your dog on prevention and on a yearly basis thereafter.

A: The heartworm test is a simple blood test that detects a protein produced by adult female heartworms. This protein is released by the adult female heartworm into the blood stream of the infected animal.

A: All heartworm preventive products are highly efficacious when given according to their label directions. The best heartworm preventive product for you and your dog is the one you both will be the most compliant with! Talk with your veterinarian about which one is right for you and your dog.

A: It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to infect your dog with heartworms. Your neighbor's heartworm-infected dog is a source of infection for the mosquitoes in your neighborhood. Year-round heartworm preventive can help offer safe and effective protection for your dog.

A: Since heartworm transmission takes only one bite from an infected mosquito, your dog is at risk for infection any time mosquitoes are around. Even a short visit out to “use the yard” by your dog is enough time for a mosquito to bite. Mosquitoes can be brought into the home when you open/close doors and windows. The risk is real regardless of where your dog spends his time. This is why it is important for all dogs to be on a heartworm preventive.

A: Absolutely! All monthly heartworm preventive products work by affecting the larval stages that have been picked up from a mosquito bite in the past 30 days. The juvenile and adult life stages of the heartworm are not affected by preventive products. Therefore, it's important to dose your dog every 30 days with his heartworm preventive. If you miss a monthly dose, the heartworm larvae are given the opportunity to reach a mature state that cannot be affected by the preventive. Giving your dog his heartworm preventive on the same date each month will affect the larval stages he acquired since his last heartworm preventive dose.

A: No heartworm preventive is 100% effective in preventing heartworm disease. Adult and juvenile heartworms in the lungs and heart cause damage to major blood vessels, which can lead to severe lung disease and heart failure. The earlier this disease is detected, the earlier your veterinarian can start treatment. Testing your dog each year should be a part of every dog's preventive wellness check-up.

A: All it takes is one bite by an infected mosquito to infect your dog with heartworms. Prevention is better, and less expensive, than treatment for heartworm disease. Remember, many heartworm preventive products also treat and/or control certain intestinal worms in your dog as well.

A: Heartworm disease is potentially deadly, and it has been detected in all 50 states in the US. Your dog can become infected with heartworms any time an infected mosquito bites.

A: Prevention is better and safer than treatment. Irreversible damage can occur as soon as immature heartworms enter a dog's heart and lungs. Treatment requires expert care from your veterinarian and can be expensive. Complications can occur during treatment, some of which can be severe.

A: Initially, in early stages of the disease, your dog may not have any outward signs of infection. The progression and severity of heartworm disease depend upon several factors, including how many adult heartworms the dog has and the activity level of the infected dog. As the disease worsens, respiratory and heart-related issues can develop including coughing, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. That's why it is so important for your pet to be tested annually and use a heartworm preventive year-round.

A: Heartworm preventive products all work by affecting the same tissue stages (L3 and L4 stages) of the heartworm after your dog is bitten by an infected mosquito. Older heartworm life stages are not affected by the preventive products. Therefore, it is important to dose your dog with his preventive before the heartworms are able to mature to these older stages and to keep to a strict schedule of dosing every 30 days. Giving your dog his heartworm preventive on the same date each month will affect the tissue stages he may have accumulated since his last heartworm preventive dose.

A: It is important that you schedule a visit with your veterinarian so that he/she can perform a wellness exam and explain what preventive care your puppy needs. A puppy is not born with or given protection against heartworm disease by its mother. Your puppy is at risk for becoming infected with heartworms from the first day of life. All it takes is one bite from an infected mosquito to infect your puppy. Heartworm prevention should be started as early as 6 weeks of age. Talk to your veterinarian about which heartworm disease preventive is right for your puppy.