They're relatively easy to take care of. I would say that they're easier than a dog or a cat, but they're still a little bit of work.

Give it as soon as you remember. Then remember, six months from that time, they need to be tested because it takes six months from the time of a bite to show active infection.

Treating mosquitoes by keeping your yard free of mosquitoes, standing water, or anything that helps prevent mosquitoes will reduce the risk of heartworm infection.

Absolutely not. There are some online claims that there can be preventatives or treatments. There's even a Guinness remedy out there, but those are absolutely not effective.

They do because there are cases, like any medication, where there's a breakthrough infection.

Extremely effective. There are cases where dogs can spit out a heartworm preventative treat or where a topical preventative doesn't actually hit the skin. In those cases, if the preventative was purchased through a veterinary source, the heartworm preventative company will guarantee the product and cover treatment. However, almost all of the time, it is very effective.

As soon as you obtain your dog. Heartworms are something that's deadly, and it's a risk year-round in south Texas because we never get rid of mosquitoes, which is the vector for them.

It's pretty easily prevented with one of several different types of prevention. There are chewables that are given monthly, and there are also injections that can be given once every six months or once a year.