Summer means mosquitoes, and that can signal problems for pets in the form of heartworm disease. Even if you don’t live in a high-risk area, heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states.

You may travel with your pet to a locale that has a higher incidence of heartworm disease than your own — or the disease may land on your doorstep when heartworm-positive pets are adopted from elsewhere.

Stray dogs and wildlife — like coyotes, foxes and wolves — may be heartworm-positive too. Infected mosquitos can even be blown by the wind from other areas.

Because risk factors for heartworm disease are so difficult to predict, it’s best to get your pet tested yearly for heartworm and keep them on heartworm prevention throughout the year.