Heartworm Tests at Our Veterinary Hospital for Your Dogs this Summer in Columbus, OH

It's summer time in Columbus, Whitehall, Bexley, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Pickerington, and Groveport, and that means more time having fun outside with your pets. It also means the danger for heartworm disease is higher for dogs, making this the ideal time for heartworm testing. Our veterinarians at Hamilton Road Animal Hospital recommend getting all of your dogs tested for heartworms at the beginning of this summer season.

What is a Heartworm?

Heartworms are parasites that burrow into a dog's body and take up residence in the heart. They live and reproduce there, filling the heart cavity, and may eventually kill the dog if not treated.

Heartworms can only be transmitted from dog to dog by the bite of an infected mosquito, but there is no way of knowing which mosquitoes are infected. The insects bite an infected dog, ingest some of the infective larvae, then pass it on by biting another, healthy dog. Spring and summer are the most common times for mosquitoes to appear in central Ohio. That's why it's important to give your dog it’s preventive medication before running the risk of them being bitten by infected mosquitoes.

Our Columbus Veterinarians Help Prevent Heartworms in Your Dog

Our Columbus veterinarians have a treatment that prevents heartworms from taking up residence in your dog's body. The first step is for us to give your dog a simple blood test, just to make sure it isn't already suffering from heartworms. Once we're sure your dog's heart is clear, we can start it on a monthly dose of heartworm preventive medication. We recommend continuing the monthly preventive year round to be safe.

Heartworms are a serious parasite that can have devastating effects on a dog's health, but they're simple to prevent with a little care. Give us a call and make an appointment to have your dog tested for heartworms today, and to start programs of monthly heartworm preventive medication. Call us at 614-470-5964 today.