In this climate, the risk associated with starting heartworm medication without a prior test is extremely low. In Ottawa, the main reason that annual testing is recommended is to screen for common tick borne diseases, such as Lyme Disease. The “4DX” test screens for heartworm and tick borne diseases in one simple blood sample.
The exception would be pets who travel to higher risk heartworm area such as southern United States.
Please ask your veterinarian for further information on your pet’s specific needs.
