04/10/2026
April is Heartworm Awareness Month ❤️🦟
Heartworm disease is a serious, and potentially fatal, condition. It’s spread by mosquitoes, which means if you live in areas like ours (those darker red zones on the map), your pets are at higher risk.
At a continuing education event a few years ago, we learned a startling statistic: around 100 pets per day were being diagnosed with heartworms in Hillsborough County alone. This disease is not rare. It’s happening right here in our community.
💉 Treatment for heartworms isn’t simple. It involves a series of injections of an arsenic-based medication deep into the muscle in the back, along with strict exercise restriction and months of recovery. It’s not only hard on pets, but emotional for owners too.
🐾 We’re also sharing the story of one very special patient, Phil, (Jacqui’s rescue pup extraordinaire) who has become the “face” of heartworm disease for us. While he successfully made it through treatment and is now living a happy, full life, he does have lasting damage to his heart and lungs from the infection. His story is a powerful reminder that even when pets survive heartworms, the effects can be lifelong.
✨ That’s why prevention is everything.
• Keep your pet on monthly heartworm prevention
• Test annually
• Don’t skip doses
In Florida and other high-risk areas, heartworm prevention isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Let’s keep our pets safe, healthy, and heartworm-free 💙
