{"id":107,"date":"2022-04-14T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cdblogdev.frontrowdigital.com\/index.php\/2022\/04\/14\/ticks-and-heartworms-don-t-take-time-off\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T01:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T01:02:18","slug":"tick-and-heartworm-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chuckanddons.com\/blog\/health-and-wellness\/tick-and-heartworm-prevention","title":{"rendered":"Ticks and Heartworms in Pets: Why Year-Round Prevention Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parasites don\u2019t follow a calendar. Ticks, heartworms, and other intestinal parasites can affect dogs and cats at any time of year. That\u2019s why annual screenings and preventative medication are critical for pet owners who want to avoid costly treatments and keep their pets safe from life-threatening illnesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find Out Why Annual Screenings and Preventive Medication Matter<\/span><\/h2>\n

Every pet parent knows that creepy bloodsuckers are the enemy. Ticks are becoming <\/span>more widespread<\/span><\/a> and carry potentially deadly tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma, while heartworm disease is also fatal and has been found in all 50 states. But what most people don\u2019t know is that fighting parasites during peak outdoor season is not enough. These little monsters never go on vacation, and that\u2019s why your pet needs to be on a monthly preventative, which may include either an over-the-counter or prescription medication. While heartworm prevention always requires a prescription medication from your veterinarian, there are many <\/span>flea and tick preventatives<\/span><\/a> available over the counter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Worried about the money? You\u2019ll actually be saving it in the long run, not to mention sparing you and your pet a whole lot of stress. Diseases like Lyme disease and heartworm infection require extensive (and expensive) treatment. While monthly heartworm preventatives or tick prevention products aren\u2019t necessarily cheap, it\u2019s a drop in the bucket compared to weeks in the hospital or caring for a chronic condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

To get a prescription, you\u2019ll need to have your pet screened annually. This may sound like a pain, but it\u2019s actually great\u2014tests catch all the things you can\u2019t. After all, heartworm larvae spread by an infected mosquito can grow into adult heartworms silently, and heartworm disease has zero symptoms in the early stages. Tick-borne illnesses also need to be caught as quickly as possible to prevent complications like chronic kidney disease, lung disease, or even heart failure.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, it\u2019s better to test your pet, not your luck. If you\u2019re ready to schedule your pet\u2019s annual testing for heartworm disease and tick-borne illness, check out our <\/span>Mobile Vet Clinics<\/span><\/a>. And remember, while puppies don\u2019t need testing, they can still start heartworm prevention medications safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extra Heartworm and Tick Prevention Tips for Pet Owners<\/span><\/h2>\n