When to start heartworm & flea/tick meds for dogs after negative test?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! We don’t start heartworm and flea/tick prevention until around 8 week of age. Nexgard is the only oral flea and tick preventative approved in the US for 6 months or younger. I would continue the Nemex every 2 weeks until they start heartworm prevention. I hope this helps!

Vet’s typically recommend year round flea/tick prevention as even in the winter fleas are seen during unseasonably warm weeks. As warmer days are likely in the coming month of March I would start now. In general, the oral flea /tick preventatives such as monthly Nexgard, Simparica or every 12 weeks Bravecto chews are more effective than topical products such as Frontline without the risk of skin sensitivity. When you run out of your current product, before the warmer spring months arrive, definitely inquire with your vet about the oral flea/tick products. Great job for being so proactive of an owner in protecting Snowball!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is never too late! At 7 months old I recommend that your Vet test Midna for heart worm disease now. If she is negative start Heartgard then retest her again in 6 months. It takes a heart worm 6 months from the bite of an infected mosquito to mature in to adults and cause a test to be positive. So testing now only proves she wasn't bitten in the first 1 month of life. I highly recommend year round heart worm prevention for the entirety of the pets life. Getting heart worm disease can be deadly and treating heart worm disease is expensive and can also cause be deadly. I hope this helps and I wish you and Midna the best.

It is very important to start heartworm preventative in puppies to make sure that they are protected and never get heartworms, so be sure to get Callie started on heartworm prevention right away. This is very important in warmer climates because mosquitoes are present year round and Callie can get infected even in the winter. So, ask your vet for a heartworm prevention recommendation for Callie. Congrats on your new baby! ! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Storm is old enough and weighs enough to start many different kinds of flea and tick prevention. Frontline, Advantage, Advantix, the Seresto Collar and Nexgard are all appropriate now. Have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is a great question! Yes, you should continue to give Kirby his monthly heartworm and flea/tick prevention. The medication to kill the whipworms will not prevent heartworm or fleas/ticks and therefore he will still require the monthly preventions. Kisses to Kirby!

Heartworm medication should be given to a dog every month, but if a dog does have heartworm, it will take at least six months for a dog to test positive after being infected. I would have Holly checked for heartworm now so she can be put on a preventative if she is negative for it. I hope this helps!