It’s a common assumption among pet owners: once the weather cools and mosquitoes seem to vanish, heartworm prevention can pause until spring. Unfortunately, that logic leaves pets vulnerable. At Club Hill Animal Clinic, we want to make one thing clear: heartworm prevention is a year-round commitment. Skipping even a few doses can put your pet at risk, no matter what season it is.
Heartworm Is a Year-Round Threat
Mosquitoes may be more noticeable in the summer, but they don’t disappear entirely in colder weather. In fact:
- In many regions, especially the South, mosquitoes remain active for much of the year, so these states
- have higher rates of heartworms.
- Indoor environments offer mosquitoes a warm place to survive and thrive.
- Warm spells in the winter can wake up dormant mosquito populations.
Because of this, heartworm disease transmission doesn’t stop when the temperature drops and neither should your pet’s prevention routine.
The High Cost of Gaps in Heartworm Protection
When pet owners pause their pet’s heartworm medication “just for the winter,” they may not realize how quickly things can go wrong. One missed dose can lead to a heartworm infection. Treatment is costly, lengthy, and physically taxing for pets. There is no cure for heartworm in cats, only symptom management. Pets infected during off-months may not show symptoms for months, making early detection harder. All of this adds up to one simple truth: continuous heartworm prevention is far more effective and far easier than treatment.
How to Stay on Track with Your Pet’s Heartworm Prevention All Year
Heartworm preventives don’t block bites or kill adult worms. Instead, they eliminate larvae that were introduced the previous month. That means if you stop giving the medication in December and your pet was bitten in November, those larvae could still survive and mature. Missing even one dose can undo months of protection and set the stage for infection.
If life gets busy or your routine changes with the seasons, here are a few ways to stay consistent:
- Use calendar reminders or pet health tracking apps.
- Choose a long-lasting heartworm injection option (dogs only) if remembering monthly doses is a challenge.
- Link prevention to another routine (like giving monthly flea/tick meds or paying a bill).
- Ask your vet about auto-ship options so you never run out of your pet’s heartworm medication.
Even with year-round prevention, annual heartworm testing is a must. By having your pet tested for heartworm, you are checking that your pet hasn’t developed an infection due to a missed or late dose and that their medication is working as expected.
Come to Club Hill Animal Clinic for Heartworm Protection in Garland, TX
Heartworm prevention isn’t just a summer task—it’s an all-year responsibility. The risks of pausing protection, even for a few months, far outweigh any perceived benefits. At Club Hill Animal Clinic, we’re here to make heartworm prevention easy, accessible, and stress-free during all seasons for pet owners in Garland, Mesquite, Rowlett, and surrounding areas. Keep your pet protected every month of the year. Book an appointment to schedule a wellness visit for heartworm testing and preventatives today.