It’s a common mistake: when cooler temperatures arrive, many pet owners assume it’s safe to take a break from heartworm prevention. But mosquitoes—and heartworm disease—don’t follow the calendar. For National Heartworm Awareness Month at Premier Animal Wellness & Surgery Hospital (PAWSH), we want pet owners to understand that heartworm prevention is not a seasonal chore. It’s a year-round responsibility that protects your pet from an ever-present risk.
The Risks of Seasonal Gaps in Heartworm Prevention
While mosquitoes are most active in the warmer months, they can survive and thrive longer than you might expect. Milder winters allow mosquitoes to remain active throughout much of the year. Indoor environments offer mosquitoes a warm place to live, even in cold weather. This means that even during fall and winter, your pet could be exposed to heartworm-carrying mosquitoes.
Heartworm disease prevention works by eliminating larvae acquired the month before, not by blocking future bites. If your pet skips a dose, even during what feels like a low-risk season, larvae from a prior mosquito bite can survive and mature. Missing even a single dose leaves a gap in protection that allows heartworms to gain a foothold. Consistency is the key to year-round safety from heartworm disease.
What Happens If You Stop Heartworm Protection in Winter?
Some pet owners choose to stop heartworm prevention over the winter, planning to restart in the spring. But this strategy can backfire badly.
- Pets bitten just before prevention stops remain at risk.
- Missed doses increase the chance of infection, especially in warm climates.
- If infection happens, it may go undetected until symptoms appear months later.
- Treatment for dogs is costly, time-consuming, and hard on your pet’s health.
- There are not any currently approved treatments for heartworm disease in cats.
- Prevention is always simpler, safer, and less expensive than treatment.
How to Stay Consistent With Heartworm Prevention All Year Long
Managing your pet’s parasite prevention plan throughout the year doesn’t have to be difficult.
- Set monthly reminders on your phone or calendar.
- Link heartworm medication days with a regular routine, like paying bills.
- Ask about long-acting injectable options for dogs to simplify scheduling.
- Enroll in automatic refill services to ensure you never run out.
Even if you are diligent with monthly heartworm medication for your pet, annual heartworm testing is still necessary. Testing ensures that no accidental missed doses have led to infection and that heartworm prevention is working as intended. Early detection of infections means that starting treatment is possible before heartworm disease causes lasting damage. Testing and prevention together provide complete protection for your pet—no matter the season.
Heartworm Prevention Has No Off-Season at Premier Animal Wellness & Surgery Hospital
Heartworm doesn’t disappear when summer ends, and neither should your prevention routine. Keeping your pet safe from this invisible danger means staying consistent every month of the year. At Premier Animal Wellness & Surgery Hospital, we’re here to make that easy with parasite prevention plans and annual heartworm testing in Bowling Green, KY that give you total peace of mind. Make year-round heartworm prevention part of your pet’s wellness routine. Book an appointment for your pet’s heartworm test or to refill their prevention medication.
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