Since 1985 the Doctors at the Animal Medical Center have been diagnosing heartworm disease in the dogs of North Georgia and Southeast Tennessee.

Prevention and treatment of this parasite has changed dramatically in those 25 years.  Daily heartworm preventative used then has been replaced by once-monthly preventatives used today.  Multiple toxic injections used to kill the dangerous worms in 1985 have been replaced by less dangerous and more effective drugs used today.

Diagnosis of the disease has become much more accurate. 

A test performed on a small sample of your dog's blood will give you the information you want to know:  Does my dog have heartworms?

It is recommended that all dogs be tested for heartworms once yearly.  Although rare, some dogs on heartworm preventative have been diagnosed with the parasite.  If your dog has been on a heartworm preventative and tests positive, the companies that produce the preventatives will pay for your pet's treatment.  (It should be noted that these treatment guarantees do not apply to preventatives obtained from catalogue or internet-pharmacy sales.  Our "Home Delivery" page allows internet purchases AND guarantees from the manufacturers)

If your dog is not already on a heartworm preventative, have him checked for the parasite and, if negative, put him on one of the several heartworm preventatives available.

For more information, we direct you to the following web-page:

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/ 

You may contact The Animal Medical Center at 706-861-0873.