Dear DocSide Vet,
Why does my dog need to be on heartworm preventative year round? -Tim, Harbor EastDear Tim –
There are many good reasons for using heartworm preventative year round.
1. Heartworms are carried by mosquitos; therefore, areas near water, like Baltimore, have a high-risk of exposure.
2. It is not uncommon for us to have spring-like days in December or January, so our pets can be exposed during these months.
3. Most heartworm preventatives today are also broad spectrum dewormers. Every time your dog licks or sniffs where another dog has pooped he can be exposed to intestinal parasites, many of which can also be passed to humans.
When you consider these risk factors along with the fact that heartworm disease is potentially fatal, you can see why most veterinarians recommend year-round usage.
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