A dog can show signs of heartworm as early as about six months. They typically don’t show any symptoms before that, as the infestation isn't mature enough at that point.

In a dog, typically, you're going to see coughing. And that's the most common sign. Sometimes, weight loss, you'll see that as well. Those are the two most common signs. Labored breathing, sometimes, as well. And then, as it advances, you can get heart failure and some other things, but those are the big signs. Anytime we have a dog coming in, coughing, gagging, and that's not on heartworm preventative, we highly recommend a test.

Dogs that are outside or in pens all of the time can be inundated with mosquito bites compared to a dog that's more indoors. Of course, your field dogs, your hunting dogs, things like that probably have a higher risk. All dogs have risks despite their lifestyle, but certain dog lifestyles are higher risk, such as predominantly outside and athletic dogs.

If your neighbor doesn't treat for heartworms, you're also at a bit more risk than if everybody around you treats for heartworms, which you don't know.

Heartworms are transmitted via a mosquito bite. And then, that mosquito injects baby worms into the dog's skin. And they migrate into the dog's skin for about two months till they hit the bloodstream. And then, they end up in the pulmonary arteries or arteries of the lungs seven months later. That tissue stage, or those first two months, is where the heartworm preventatives destroy that infection before it gets any further. That's the only time that those are an effective heartworm control or prevention.

Give the next regularly-scheduled dose. Once a dog gets infected, it takes seven months for that infestation to mature. Keep giving your regular heartworm preventative as directed, and then, seven months later, get another test. And if it's negative, great, your dog is probably fine.

We can. Vector control or mosquito control is probably the most important. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so try to eliminate standing water in your area. Flower pots can be a source of water for them to replicate in. Also, there are certain high feeding times for mosquitoes—morning is one, and then at dusk. Avoid having your dog hanging out outside during those times, and it might decrease your dog's risk of mosquito bites. However, that alone is not a preventative.

Even dogs in the house get infected with heartworm. Mosquitoes can get in the house and bite your dog and inject five to 10 baby worms into your dog.

No, there are none that we would recommend. In dogs with heartworms and baby worms circulating in their blood, some of these heartworm preventatives are not appropriate in that situation, as dogs can have an allergic reaction if they have baby worms circulating in the blood with certain products. We avoid those products in the initial treatment of a positive dog because of that.