Discussions »Health

When Should We Heartworm Test?

Lady Penelope on Health - Wed, December 12 2007

I was so sorry to hear about your heartworm test coming back positive, Barney! I hope you get that taken care of soon! You have a great Ma to take care of you!

My question is...when should I have a heartworm test? The vet said to wait till I was a year old. Is that when you guys got your first HW test? With all the problems I have had in my short life, Ma is just wanting to make sure everything is good. I know we wouldn't want to do it too early, but also, not too late. And yes, I am on monthly HW preventative. That's the only pill Ma doesn't have to wrap in braunschwiger, which she HOGS all of!!! Sorry Ma.

Buster on Dec 12 at 02:35 PM

Mommy said she was told one year too.

Oh, and she had braunschwiger for lunch. Yum!

Barney on Dec 12 at 02:40 PM

Thanks Lady Penelope. Yep, my momma is super special! She feels terrible right now like she messed up!!
The reason you can wait until 1 year old is that most puppies are protected by antibodies from their moms for the first six months. After that I takes 6 months for heartworms to develope so they show up on the test. If you want to be check get one anyway! My vet only charges $22 for one and you don't have to have an appointment.

Colton on Dec 12 at 02:41 PM

Yep- I don't have to get tested until this spring.( I just turned 1 last week) I have been on heartworm preventative since I was 10 weeks old and the vet said to wait to do the test until I was 1.

♥Zoe♥ on Dec 12 at 02:50 PM

I am tested yearly also. I am on heartworm preventative once a month. When Momma got me they did a stool test and then blood tests once a year...

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