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| Heartworm life cycle |
When Should You Start Heartworm Prevention?
Spring is around the corner and many pet owners are wondering when they should start heartworm prevention. The answer is, YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER STOPPED! Tsk Tsking aside, there's a logic to why we recommend year round heartworm prevention. The first reason is because weather in Kansas is crazy! We could have weather mild enough in January or February for mosquitoes to come out. The second reason is that heartworm preventatives are just that, preventatives. Heartworm prevention works by killing the heartworm while it's still in it's larval stage. Here's a scenario: Let's say that in October you give your pet's dose of Heartgard. It kills any larvae that may be present currently in it's system (the active ingredient only last's in the dogs system for 24-48 hours). Then your dog gets bit towards the end of the month because the weather has remained warm. The heartworm larvae now have a full 3-4 months to mature and then when the Heartgard is started up again in the spring, it's not going to kill the mature heartworms that your dog now has!
If you've stopped prevention this winter, please don't let that discourage you from starting it back up again. Chances are, your dog is fine. However, it's always a good idea to test for heartworms if you've stopped for any period of time. Spring is a great time to get back into the swing of things. We have many great specials going on right now if you need to stock back up. Give us a call or stop by!
-Amanda Kellogg, R.V.T
Kutter Pet Care Center
