• You can give your dog a monthly pill or apply a topical to your dog’s skin to prevent heartworms. Your vet can also give a 6-month injectable.
• The FDA requires a prescription for heartworm medication. And vets usually require a heartworm test to get a prescription, since there is a potential danger for dogs taking the drug if they already have the disease. With social distancing in full effect, contact your vet to see what your options are since many vets are closed or taking extra precautions. 
• Once you get a prescription, consider buying direct at the vet’s office or ordering online to save your next trip to the vet or pet store (and practice social distancing). If you purchase from 1800petmeds, they will reimburse you up to $500 for the cost of heartworm treatment should they fall ill to heartworms while on medication purchased from them. 
• How do you know if your dog has heartworm? While scientists believe dogs cannot contract COVID-19, heartworm illness symptoms are similar, including coughing, abnormal breathing, fatigue and possibly death. But a test is the only way to know for sure. 
• If diagnosed, treatment can cost up to $1,000. 

Luna was diagnosed with heartworms and given a dire prognosis. But, prompt treatment by the vet paired with responsible actions by her owners gave her a second chance at life. Read her success story:  www.caninejournal.com/heartworm-symptoms/#testimonial