Puppies under 7 months of age can be started on heartworm prevention without a heartworm test (it takes at least 6 months for a dog to test positive after it has been infected), but should be tested 6 months after your initial visit, tested again 6 months later and yearly after that to ensure they are heartworm-free.
Can I put my dog on heartworm medicine without testing?
The preventatives will not kill adult heartworms, so the only way to be sure your pet is free of heartworm disease is to have the blood test performed.
Can you give Heartgard without a test?
The American Heartworm Society recommends annual heartworm testing. It's important to never give Heartgard to any pet that has not been tested for heartworm disease. Heartworm preventative medication such as Heartgard cannot kill adult heartworms, but instead kills the baby heartworms known as microfilariae.
Is it necessary to get heartworm test?
In a word, yes. Heartworm testing is very important to the health of your dog. If your dog is heartworm positive and you put it on certain types of heartworm preventative, it could have detrimental effects, including death.
Do you need a vet prescription for heartworm medicine?
Do you need a prescription for dog heartworm medicine? Yes, you need a prescription for heartworm preventative in the United States. Most Veterinarians require a recent negative heartworm test be on file before prescribing heartworm preventatives.
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