Heartworm Information
Does my pet need monthly heartworm prevention?
It's recommended that all pets, dogs and cats, receive heartworm preventatives. Even if you live in a low-risk area, the risks associated with heartworm disease are considered greater than the risks associated with providing monthly prevention. In fact, the American Heartworm Society recommends a year-round preventative regimen regardless of lifestyle or geographical region as heartworms have been diagnosed in all 50 states and are regionally present in the main 48 and Hawaii.
Do I need to treat my indoor pet?
Similar to fleas, it's far too easy and common for a mosquito to make it's way indoors through an open door, window, or sometimes even small holes in screens. Even indoor animals should be given a monthly preventative year-round to ensure that even one mosquito bite won't infect your pet with heartworm disease.
Can I use mosquito repellant on my dog?
Please don't ever apply DEET or other human-formulated mosquito repellants to your pet, as these can have serious and potentially deadly side effects in animals. Fortunately, many of the topical flea and tick products on the market actually contain ingredients that help repel mosquitos as well, and will be sufficient to prevent bites on your pet all summer long.
Additional things you can try involve reducing the mosquito exposure around your home by doing the following:
- Reduce standing water and other mosquito breeding areas
- Plant mosquito-repelling plants, such as basil, citronella, and lemon grass, in pet-safe planters (just try to keep them out of your pet's reach so they're not tempted to eat it!)
- Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth in hard-to-reach areas, such as under decks and plants, to help control larvae populations
- Limit the amount of time your pet spends outdoors during active mosquito periods at dusk and dawn