What is heartworm, in one paragraph?

A mosquito bites an infected animal, picks up microscopic larvae, and injects them into your pet with its next bite. Over months those larvae grow into worms up to a foot long living in the heart and lung vessels. Dogs are the natural host, where untreated infection is eventually fatal. Cats get it too, less often but with no approved cure, which makes prevention their only real defense.

Why is Miami's risk so much higher?

Heat, humidity, canals and year-round mosquito season. Transmission requires warm nights, and we supply them in January. Skipping prevention "for the cooler months" here just isn't a thing; a single missed month is a real gap in a city where transmission never stops.

My dog is on prevention. Why the annual test?

Because prevention is nearly perfect only when it's given perfectly, and real life includes the vomited pill behind the sofa and the month everyone forgot. The annual test catches a breakthrough infection while it's early and more treatable, and it's required for refilling prescriptions safely. Our in-house lab runs it in minutes during the visit.

What does treatment involve if a dog tests positive?

Months of strict exercise restriction and a series of deep injections, with real risk management along the way, and a bill many times the cost of years of prevention. We've guided many families through it successfully, and every one of them would tell you the same thing: buy the prevention.

What does prevention cost?

A monthly chew or a periodic injection, and we'll quote both by phone for free: (786) 275-4629. Auto-ship through our online pharmacy is how families actually stay perfect on doses.