Q: Dear Dr. Knott, I am confused about heartworm prevention and testing for my dog. Do I need to keep her on prevention even in the winter? Does she need to be tested every year?
A: Veterinarians strongly recommend keeping animals on heartworm prevention all year long. Heartworm is a parasite transmitted by mosquitos. Every winter seems to be different so it is very hard to say when to "stop and start" prevention. Heartworm disease is very dangerous to your pet and is extremely costly to treat. We also recommend testing your pet on a yearly basis as no prevention is 100 percent effective. Most heartworm prevention medication also treats and prevents some of the most common intestinal parasites. March is National Heartworm Prevention Month. Country Village will be offering reduced prices on heartworm testing throughout the whole month. We will also be holding our annual Rabies Vaccination Day/Heartworm Testing Day on March 24. The city of Centerville will be present that day to license your pet. Call for an appointment today.
Thank you for your questions. Please send them to dr.courtneyknott@gmail.com or 20120 Highway 2, Centerville.
Country Village Animal Clinic
20120 Hwy 2
Centerville, IA 52544
Correspondents
Ask the Vet
- Correspondents
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- History of ‘Taps’ and other fun facts
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Planning under way for July 4
I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather we have been having lately. You can see as you travel around that the farmers are sure busy working in their fields, getting their crops in.
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Exline city-wide cleanup May 4-5
- History of telephone service in Appanoose County; Easter eggs still available to purchase
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Spring clean up days coming in May
I hope everyone survived the pranks that some people play on April Fool’s Day. Isn’t it something how earlier in the week we had more summer like weather, so early in the springtime?
The recipe for this week, I thought was appropriate for this time of the year. -
May fundraiser, dance has a change of date
April is here and the flowers are blooming. We are enjoying the nice weather. Friday, April 6 will be our Easter lunch with games.
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History of telephone service in Appanoose County; Easter eggs still available to purchase
The early springtime weather sure has been enjoyable. Some people say we may have a cold snap to interrupt this stretch of good weather. We just have to hope we do not get any late spring snow storms like we have experienced in the past.
- Easter Egg fundraiser to be March 25
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Still time to buy brick for bell pedestal
Has everyone gotten adjusted to Daylight Savings Time yet? It is kind of strange at first because it stays darker in the morning now and is lighter later into the evening. We will eventually get used to it. Hasn’t the weather been fantastic for the most part, with temperatures in the 70s? The spring flowers will be in bloom before you know it.
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Royal Neighbors to hold dinner
The weather continues to be different. One day it is snowing and another day it is sunny and mild. With this continued mild weather, the spring flowers plants and shrubs will soon be coming into flower, which will be earlier than usual. At least we are not experiencing those severe tornadoes like a lot of other places have been having.
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A history and childhood memories of the Moravia Methodist Church
When I was about six or seven, I was delegated to walk with my grandma, Christianna Kaster, to church on Sunday because grandma was a little lightheaded.
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Plans for summer trips under way
As we start another new month we look forward to spring with the trees budding and the flowers blooming.
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Some interesting facts about Leap Year
Are you aware that in less than three weeks, it will be the first day of spring? That will occur on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:14 a.m.
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President’s Day: Where it came from and how it has become what it is today
It continues to be an unbelievable winter with the unseasonable weather that we continue to have. I do not know how well that will be for the farmers because of the lack of moisture but from a shoveling standpoint, it is good news!
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Exline soup supper tomorrow; still time to buy bricks for bell
Well, I hope everyone had a nice Valentine’s Day and enjoyed having some decadent chocolate sweets. Did you know that in 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine's Day. It is nice to have a day devoted to enjoying chocolate.
- More Correspondents Headlines

