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.
At what age should a puppy be tested for heartworms?
Most veterinarians test puppies for the first time anywhere between 6-10 months of age. Heartworm testing is typically done once a year unless you've missed a dose or gave the pill a week or two late. If this happens, simply contact your veterinarian to see if your puppy needs a heartworm test sooner.
Do dogs need heartworm test before Heartgard?
It is recommended by most veterinarians and by the manufacturers of the Heartworm medications that each dog have a test prior to receiving the medications each year, to ensure that the pet is free from Heartworm disease.
Why are puppies not tested for heartworm?
This is why your veterinarian will not perform a heartworm test on a dog that is less than 7 months of age because it will be negative regardless of whether larvae are present within the blood. If your dog tests positive for adult heartworms, another blood test to check for circulating microfilariae will be done.
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