My pet is strictly indoors. Do I need heartworm protection and other vaccines and immunizations?

Although your pet is at a lower risk than the outdoor pet, your pet is still vulnerable. It is true that indoor pets are less susceptible to contagious diseases, but there are still ways your indoor pet can get various preventable diseases.

In terms of heartworms, pets are susceptible inside the home as well as outside of it. This is especially true in South Carolina, and maybe even more so on James Island where mosquitoes are especially numerous.

Below are some of the ways your indoor pet can get various preventable diseases:
a) Your inside cat accidentally escapes at night and encounters a feline leukemia infected tomcat that thought your yard was his territory…
b) That cute kitten that you rescued has feline infectious peritonitis and spreads it to your other cats…
c) The bag of bird food you brought home infected with the polyoma virus…
d) The neighbor’s dog has “kennel cough” and sneezes through the screened porch while visiting your dog… Check with your veterinarian to make sure your pet has all its vaccinations and immunizations.