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Grounded or Unfounded: It's too cold here for heartworms.

Many areas of the country have cold winters--AND heartworms. Year-round prevention provides the best way to keep your pet safe.

Grounded or Unfounded: Indoor pets are safe from heartworm infection.

Mosquitoes come inside--which means "indoor" pets are exposed to heartworms, too.

Grounded or Unfounded: Heartworms don't live here.

While heartworms are more prevalent in some parts of the country they're diagnosed in all 50 states.

Grounded or Unfounded: Cats don't get heartworm disease

Cats get heartworm disease, too--and unlike dogs, they have no options for treatment. Year-round prevention is the best approach.

Grounded or Unfounded: All drugs that prevent parasites prevent heartworm infection.

Treating your pet for parasites? Read the label and make sure it covers heartworms!

Frequently Asked Questions on Heartworm Treatment in Shelters

When should we perform spay-neuter surgery in a heartworm-positive dog?

Shelter Educational Brochures

New from AHS and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians: Educational Brochures on Heartworm for People Adopting from a Shelter

Why Should I WORRY About HEARTWORMS?

Here's what dog, cat and ferret owners need to know about heartworms and how their pet can get them--as well as why they should opt for safe and easy heartworm prevention.

Can heartworms be prevented naturally?

Many pet owners want "natural" solutions to heartworm prevention and treatment in their pets. The American Heartworm Society provides the facts.

5 Simple Steps to Keep Your Pet Happy for the Holidays

Five veterinary experts weigh in on keeping pets happy during the holidays.

Mosquitoes, Heartworms and Pets OH MY

Learn why you should protect your pets from deadly heartworm disease, which is spread by mosquitoes.

12 Reasons to Protect Your Pet 12 Months a Year

Not ONE reason but 12 reasons pets need year-round heartworm protection.

True or False: Test Your Heartworm Knowledge

Test your knowledge about diagnosis, prevention and treatment of heartworm disease in dogs and cats.

The Deadly Truth: Heartworm Disease in Cats

Heartworm in cats can be deadly BUT it can be prevented.

5 Facts Every Pet Owner Should Know About Heartworm Disease

The five basic facts every pet owner needs to know about heartworm disease.

Updated COVID-19 Recommendations (October 2020)

Updated guidance on returning to normal protocols for heartworm prevention, testing, and treatment as COVID-19 mitigation measures were relaxed.

COVID-19 AHS Recommendation (April 2020)

Guidance on handling deviations from heartworm prevention, testing, and treatment necessitated by practice changes during the initial weeks and months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heartworm Preventive Waiver

Client declining recommended heartworm prevention or testing? This hold-harmless waiver may help change their mind.

Bringing the 17th Triennial Heartworm Symposium to You

This Q&A provides highlights from 2022 AHS Triennial Heartworm Symposium speakers and moderators on leading issues presented and discussed at the conference.

Triennial Symposium Proceedings

Since the establishment of the American Heartworm Society in 1974, a symposium has been held every three years for the purpose of presenting the latest research on heartworm disease, diagnosis, and prevention. Presenters at each symposium come from all over the world.

Triennial Symposium

Could heartworm be stopped at the level of the mosquito?

In this video, University of Pennsylvania researcher Dr. Michael Povelones discusses research to better understand heartworm transmission, as well as new, previously unexplored ways to prevent it.

Understanding the prevalence of heartworm in cats

The true prevalence of heartworms in cats has been a question in the minds of many veterinarians. In this video, veterinary parasitologist and Zoetis scientist Dr. Jessica Rodriguez discusses the findings of a recent study that compared the results of heartworm testing in dogs and cats from a heartworm-endemic area of the U.S. and explains what it revealed about different types of heartworm tests and which tests give the most accurate picture of heartworm prevalence.

When and why should cats be screen for heartworms?

n the U.S., veterinarians tend to reserve heartworm testing in cats for those that show overt clinical signs of adult heartworm infections. In this video, veterinary parasitologist and Zoetis scientist Dr. Jessica Rodriguez explains what a recent study done in conjunction with University of Florida and University of Oklahoma researchers revealed about the need to screen cats for heartworm and the need to protect them from this common parasite.

Understanding the risk of heartworm in cats

Heartworm disease in cats is very different from hearhtworm in dogs, as Dr. Tom Nelson explains.