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Can I get a heartworm prevention prescription online or at a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Great Dane | Female | unspayed | 3 years and 8 months old | 96 lbs

I just moved to a city that is 7th in the nation for heart worms from mosquito's. I want to get a prescription for heart worm prevention. Is there a way to get that online or do I have to go into the local vet?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on August 1st, 2019

You will need to go to a vet as it requires a negative heartworm test before it can be prescribed. This is a simple, fast blood-test that will let the vet know it is safe to start preventive medication. Why this is required is if your pet already has heartworms and is given the medication, it can kill the worms too quickly which can cause blockages of the blood vessels leading to potential stroke or death. Making sure your pet is negative first will ensure it is safe to administer.

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