Why Prevention?

Fleas and ticks are more than just an itchy nuisance for dogs and cats; they carry and are responsible for causing or transmitting deadly diseases to pets like anemia, Typhus, Lyme disease, and more. Here in sunny Southern California, the weather is warm enough for fleas & ticks to live all year long, so we recommend using flea prevention year-round.

Along with monthly flea and tick prevention, we also recommend that all dogs be on monthly heartworm prevention. Heartworm is a deadly disease that’s carried by mosquitoes, transmitting heartworm larva into the bloodstream with a bite. Treatment for this disease is expensive, risky, and sometimes not possible, but without it will lead to early death.

Puppies and kittens contract several types of intestinal parasites from their mothers prior to birth and also while nursing. Although parasites can affect pet health long before symptoms appear, you may notice vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or poor overall condition. Some parasites can also infect humans, so it’s important to protect your pet and your family from infestation.

Covina Animal Hospital’s Prevention Guidelines

By following these guidelines, you can help your pet stay protected from flea, tick, and heartworm disease. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment, please give us a call.

Flea and Tick Prescriptions

Annual Exam Requirement

  • Your pet must be up to date on their annual exam before renewing their flea and tick prescription. This is to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship) as required by California law.

Prescription Renewals

  • We cannot approve more than a year’s supply at a time as your pet’s annual exam must be up to date to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship).
  • If your pet’s exam is coming up due, you will need to schedule an appointment, and we may be able to provide a single dose of prevention until your pet can be seen for their annual exam.

Heartworm Prescriptions

Annual Exam Requirement

  • Your pet must be up to date on their annual exam before renewing their heartworm prescription. This is to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship) as required by California law.

Heartworm Testing

  • An annual heartworm test is strongly recommended for continuing prevention. This ensures that your pet is heartworm negative and safe to continue with prevention.
  • If your pet has never been on prevention a heartworm test is required to begin prevention
  • If there is a lapse or inconsistency in the use of prevention, a heartworm test may be required before restarting prevention and testing is recommended 6 months after re-starting to ensure your pet remains negative.

Starting Prevention

  • Heartworm prevention should be started within 45 days of testing.
  • If there’s a lapse greater than 45 days, we require retesting in 6 months to ensure your pet remains heartworm negative.

Risk in Heartworm Positive Pets

  • If heartworm prevention is administered to a heartworm-positive pet, there is a risk that a large worm burden may die off rapidly, which could cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

Prescription Renewals

  • We cannot approve more than a year’s supply at a time as your pet’s annual exam must be up to date to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship).
  • If your pet’s exam and testing are coming up due, you will need to schedule an appointment, and we may be able to provide a single dose of prevention until your pet can be seen for their annual exam.

Smooth Renewal Process

  • For the smoothest prescription renewals, we strongly encourage you to match up your pet’s annual exam with heartworm testing and purchase a 6-pack or 12-pack supply of prevention when possible

Manufacturer Guarantees

  • Some products have manufacturing guarantees that may cover heartworm-positive cases only if the pet has been consistent with prevention and testing. Policies and parameters differ between manufacturers.
  • Covina Animal Hospital maintains a strong relationship with the manufacturers of the preventions we sell. While financial reimbursement is not guaranteed, if the product was purchased through Covina Animal Hospital and your pet has been consistently receiving it from our practice, we will work closely with the manufacturer to support and facilitate the process of seeking reimbursement in the event your pet tests positive with consistent use.

Covina Animal Hospital’s Prevention Guidelines

By following these guidelines, you can help your pet stay protected from flea, tick, and heartworm disease. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment, please give us a call.

Flea and Tick Prescriptions

Annual Exam Requirement

  • Your pet must be up to date on their annual exam before renewing their flea and tick prescription. This is to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship) as required by California law.

Prescription Renewals

  • We cannot approve more than a year’s supply at a time as your pet’s annual exam must be up to date to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship).
  • If your pet’s exam is coming up due, you will need to schedule an appointment, and we may be able to provide a single dose of prevention until your pet can be seen for their annual exam.

Heartworm Prescriptions

Annual Exam Requirement

  • Your pet must be up to date on their annual exam before renewing their heartworm prescription. This is to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship) as required by California law.

Heartworm Testing

  • An annual heartworm test is strongly recommended for continuing prevention. This ensures that your pet is heartworm negative and safe to continue with prevention.
  • If your pet has never been on prevention a heartworm test is required to begin prevention
  • If there is a lapse or inconsistency in the use of prevention, a heartworm test may be required before restarting prevention and testing is recommended 6 months after re-starting to ensure your pet remains negative.

Starting Prevention

  • Heartworm prevention should be started within 45 days of testing.
  • If there’s a lapse greater than 45 days, we require retesting in 6 months to ensure your pet remains heartworm negative.

Risk in Heartworm Positive Pets

  • If heartworm prevention is administered to a heartworm-positive pet, there is a risk that a large worm burden may die off rapidly, which could cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

Prescription Renewals

  • We cannot approve more than a year’s supply at a time as your pet’s annual exam must be up to date to maintain a valid VCPR (Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship).
  • If your pet’s exam and testing are coming up due, you will need to schedule an appointment, and we may be able to provide a single dose of prevention until your pet can be seen for their annual exam.

Smooth Renewal Process

  • For the smoothest prescription renewals, we strongly encourage you to match up your pet’s annual exam with heartworm testing and purchase a 6-pack or 12-pack supply of prevention when possible

Manufacturer Guarantees

  • Some products have manufacturing guarantees that may cover heartworm-positive cases only if the pet has been consistent with prevention and testing. Policies and parameters differ between manufacturers.
  • Covina Animal Hospital maintains a strong relationship with the manufacturers of the preventions we sell. While financial reimbursement is not guaranteed, if the product was purchased through Covina Animal Hospital and your pet has been consistently receiving it from our practice, we will work closely with the manufacturer to support and facilitate the process of seeking reimbursement in the event your pet tests positive with consistent use.