How does my dog’s lifestyle affect their risk for heartworm?

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.

If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors by water sources, such as rivers, ponds, lakes, things like that versus desert areas, that could increase their risk since mosquitoes spread heartworm. But the best protection you can offer your pet is keeping them on prevention.

Most dogs are actually potentially affected by heartworm disease. There's definitely a higher risk in dogs who spend a lot of time outside hiking, but even indoor dogs can get heartworm disease.

Depending on how often your dog is outdoors and how often you're near standing water, those factors will increase your dog's risk. It's not to say that if your dog is not very active or doesn't go outside very often, he is not at risk. He still most likely goes outside to go potty, and you have to remember mosquitoes can get into your house. So even indoor cats can be susceptible to heartworms. All dogs need to be on prevention, but especially those outside dogs that go to the lake, they're in the woods and things like that. They are definitely at a higher risk of developing heartworm disease.

Dogs that spend more time outdoors and are more active, such as those going on hikes and walks, are at a higher risk of developing heartworm disease due to increased exposure to infected mosquitoes. However, even indoor dogs can be at risk, as mosquitoes can enter homes and bite dogs there.

The more time dogs spend outside, the higher their risk of contracting heartworm disease. However, even indoor dogs, especially in areas like Florida, can still come in contact with mosquitoes and are therefore also at risk.