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Q: Why do I need to test my pet annually for heartworms?  Is the heartworm test necessary even though I give my heartworm preventative every month?

A: We think of the heartworm test as cheap insurance for our patients and piece of mind for our owners.  If a dog does become infected, the heartworm test will help us to diagnose and treat the disease early before serious damage can be done to the heart and lungs.  Without testing, your pet could have heartworms for years before clinical signs and heartworm failure occur.  No heartworm preventive is absolutely 100% effective.  Also, there may be times when the pet may vomit up the medication or when you forget to give the medications in a timely manner.

All dogs need to be tested annually for heartworms.