A personalised approach to heartworm protection
This test checks for the presence of heartworm antigen, indicating whether adult female worms are present. It is ideal for pet parents who choose not to use routine heartworm preventatives, or for those wanting to screen before restarting treatment after a gap.
Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes and prevalence varies depending on where you live. It is more common in warm, humid areas of northern and eastern Australia but can still occur in southern regions, especially with climate change and increased pet travel.
Heartworm prevention is important, but not all products are suitable for every pet or every pet parent. Some owners are concerned about the side effects of annual injections or the chemical load of monthly all-in-one products. Testing offers a safe way to check for infection and tailor your approach.
This test detects antigen, not antibodies. That means it tells you whether adult heartworms are currently present, not just whether your dog has been exposed. It is different to titre testing, which measures immune memory. Antigen testing is the gold standard for heartworm screening. Heartworm has a six-month lifecycle. After a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, immature larvae travel through the body and develop into adult worms that live in the heart and lungs. These adults begin producing detectable antigen around six months after infection, which is why regular testing is recommended in dogs not on prevention.
This screen is ideal for:
- Dogs not on monthly or annual heartworm preventatives
- Dogs with gaps in prevention coverage
- Pet parents wanting to avoid chemical overuse
- Dogs travelling or relocating from low to high risk areas
