Heartworm Clinics

Call to schedule an appointment: 800-452-0114

Heartworm clinics enable pet owners to obtain this important service for their dogs at an affordable rate. All heartworm clinics are by appointment only. Pre-payment is required and is non-refundable.

Check back later for the 2018 schedule.

Cost: $20

Heartworm test only.

The veterinarian will discuss the test results during your appointment. If your dog tests positive, it will be highly recommended to schedule a medical consult exam to discuss further diagnostics, treatments and medications.

If you purchase heartworm preventative you will receive a mail-in rebate. The more you purchase, the better the rebate will be.

Please bring your current rabies vaccination certificates with you to your appointment. If your pet is not up-to-date on rabies, you will receive the vaccination for $15.

We apologize but Fox Clinic cannot schedule appointments for aggressive dogs.

Important information about heartworm:

In New England spring and summer mean the emergence of insects.  Some insects can cause significant health problems and diseases that could be VERY serious. Some illnesses that are caused by insects do not start to show symptoms until it may be too late for treatment to be effective.

One of the most common diseases carried by insects, is Heartworm Disease; a serious and potentially fatal illness that is transmitted to dogs through mosquito bites.  There are at least thirty different species of mosquitoes that can carry and transmit this disease.  The most obvious symptoms are a soft, dry chronic cough, shortness of breath, weakness, nervousness, weight loss, listlessness, rough hair coat and loss of stamina.

The parasites are detectable (at maturity, which is about 6 months after entering the patient) through the administration of a commonly used antigen blood test.  This is typically performed at your annual veterinary appointment.

The American Heartworm Society recommends annual testing for several important reasons:

1. Busy families may forget to give the heartworm preventative medicine on a regular basis.
2. Dogs often get into things that cause them to vomit.  If this occurs while the dose you just gave is still in your pet’s stomach, Fido will be without protection for an entire month.
3. Early detection and treatment are always best in handling any illness.  If your pet does become infected and diagnosis does not take place in a timely fashion, irreversible heart and lung damage may occur.
4. Finally, some tests now combine the detection of heartworm along with other significant diseases like Lyme, Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis.  Annual testing is quick and accurate, and serves to help you make sure your pet is free from infection.  It also insures that early diagnosis and treatment can take place in order keep your pet in the best possible health.

If your pet tests positive for heartworm, treatment is absolutely necessary or the outcome may be fatal.  Once treatment has concluded, it is important to begin a regimen of heartworm preventative treatment so that your dog does not become infected again.

If your pet tests negative for heartworm, you should continue with the heartworm preventative treatment prescribed by your veterinarian in order to keep your dog healthy.