Heartworm Test For Dogs Cost
A heartworm test will cost you about 48 00 on average and your vet will be using the exact elisa testing kit and methods that your vet does.
Heartworm test for dogs cost. The best approach to heartworms is prevention. Sensitivity for samples from dogs with very low wormburdens 2 worms n 24 was 91 7. The good news for owners is that heartworm testing is simple and inexpensive. The only way a veterinarian can say the pet is negative for heartworm is to perform the test.
You might spend an additional 90 00 or more quite easily. Only 44 of pet. Approximately three months after the third melarsomine injection one year after the initial diagnosis of heartworm disease a heartworm test is run 35 to 75. The heartworm prevention is licensed by the fda to be administered by a veterinarian to a heartworm negative dog.
Annual testing of all dogs on heartworm prevention is recommended. The heartworm sensitivity values in this table were generated from a mixed worm burden population. Sensitivity and specificity are based on visual interpretation of snap results. The average cost for booster shots ranges between 18 25.
Dogs should be tested annually for heartworm infection even if they are on preventative heartworm medicine cost as it is not a 100 guarantee of safety. Some animal shelters and low cost clinics will offer heartworm testing for a fraction of the cost that you d pay going to a regular vet. Talk to your dog s veterinarian about the best time for your dog s annual heartworm test. At tcap pets over 6 months of age must receive a heartworm test prior to receiving any prevention.
This annual test checks for heartworm disease which is a serious and potentially deadly condition caused by parasitic worms. Depending on how up to date your pet is with prior visits wellness checks etc. But once your pet has been tested negative and on prevention why do you need to continually repeat heartworm tests. Some of your pet s vaccinations may require boosters while others may not but most pets require 2 4 boosters each year.
Your veterinarian can easily conduct this simple blood test during a dog s annual or semiannual wellness visit assures dr. It s recommended for dog owners to have the test done at least once ideally as early as 7 months old during an annual vet exam. Plus most heartworm preventative companies will refund your vet costs if your pet gets heartworm while on their product but they apparently only do so if you bought your preventative meds directly from a vet. If it is positive the dog should be treated with another round of doxycycline 30 to 150 followed by two injections of melarsomine 24 hours apart 500 to 1 000.
If your dog tests positive treatment can begin.