Are you concerned about the possibility of your dog contracting heartworms? You can relax because there are a number of dog heartworm medications available that can protect your dog from heartworm and even save its life.
Medications That Help Prevent Dog Heartworm
Do you live in a warm weather area where there is little or no cold weather? Or do you believe your dog may have been infected with heartworms? If so, you should talk to your veterinarian about dog heartworm preventative medications.
Heartgard Plus Chewables
Heartgard Plus is the brand name of the dog heartworm medication, ivermectin/pyrantel. It requires a prescription and protects dogs by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae (Dirofilaria immitis) for a month (30 days). It is a real beef, chewable medication that is given to the dog in a minimum dose of 6.0 per kilogram (2.72 mcg/lb) of body weight. For example, dogs weighing 26 to 50 pounds should be given Heartgard Plus in 136 mcg doses.
Heartgard Plus also treats and controls roundworm and hookworm.
The adverse reactions your dog might have to Heartgard Plus include: depression/lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea and hypersalivation.
Heartgard Plus can be purchased online. One online retailer currently has it priced as $21.48 for a 6-month supply for dogs weighing 1-25 lbs. and $24.21 for a 6-month supply of the medication for dogs weighing 26-50 lbs.
Tri-Heart Plus
Tri-Heart Plus is also available by prescription only. Like Heartgard Plus, this medication will control roundworm and hookworm infections as well as protect your dog from heartworms.
Tri-Heart Plus comes as flavored chewable tablets containing the same ivermectin as Heartgard Plus to protect against heartworms and pyrantel to control other parasites - a proven combination to protect your dog. It is available in three dosage strengths (for small, medium and large dogs) and comes in easy-to-recognize color-coded packages.
The manufacturer of Tri-Heart Plus (Schering-Plough Animal Health) says that the product offers the same protection against dog heartworm disease and other parasites as Heartgard Plus but at a lower cost. For example, one online supplier sells a six month supply of Tri-Heart Plus for $22 for dogs weighing one to 25 lbs. and $30 for dogs of 26 to 50 lbs.
Interceptor Heartworm Flavor Tabs
Interceptor Heartworm Flavor Tabs have the ingredient Milbemycin Oxime to prevent heartworms and help control roundworm, whipworm and many hookworm infections as well. Like Tri-Heart Plus, this dog heartworm medication must be prescribed by your veterinarian.
Since Interceptor heartworm prevention is not designed to kill already present adult worms, it is important to test your dog for heartworms before you begin using this medication or any other heartworm preventative medication. Otherwise, you could be treating the dog, thinking it was heartworm free, only to find it was not. For this reason, you should have your dog tested for heartworm disease before starting a monthly Interceptor regimen.
You can give the Interceptor Flavor Tab directly into your dog’s mouth or put it into its food. One Interceptor tab should be given to the dog once a month at regular intervals.
You will need a prescription for Interceptor Heartworm Flavor Tabs but they can be purchased online. One online retailer has them on sale - $19 for a 6-month supply for dogs 11 to 25 lbs. and $18.50 for dogs two to 10 lbs.
Sentinel Flavor Tabs
Sentinel Flavor Tabs are said by their manufacturer to be the only monthly oral preventive that guards against heartworms and fleas as well as adult roundworms, adult hookworms and whipworms. However, Sentinel does not kill adult fleas.
Sentinel can be purchased online but requires a prescription from a veterinarian.
Sentinel’s active ingredient, milbemycin oxime is the same as that found in Interceptor Flavor Tabs. It eliminates the tissue stage of heartworm larvae and the adult stage of hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm infestations. Its other ingredient, Lufenuron, is an insect development inhibitor that breaks the flea life cycle by inhibiting egg development. Lufenuron prevents most flea eggs from hatching or maturing into adults and thus prevents and controls flea populations by breaking the life cycle.
The side effects of Sentinel are rare, though some dogs may show depression, drowsiness, vomiting, itching, hives, and loss of appetite, diarrhea, or seizures. If these or other symptoms develop, you should naturally contact your veterinarian.
Sentinel can be purchased online and typically costs from $55.99 - $154.98, depending on the size of your dog. It generally costs more than Heartgard Plus or Interceptor because of its ability to control fleas.
Iverheart Plus
Iverhart Plus is a generic equivalent to Heartgard Plus. This means it has the same active ingredients at the same strength. However, Iverhart Plus is pork liver flavored, while Heartgard Plus is beef flavored. It is manufactured by Virbac and is considered to be the #1 generic heartworm preventative medication recommended by veterinarians.
Iverheart Plus requires a prescription from your vet and can be purchased online. Because it is a generic version of Heartgard Plus, it is cheaper and can be purchased for $14.99 for a six-month supply for dogs weighing one to 25 lbs. and $22.99 for dogs weighing 26 to 50 lbs.
Iverheart Max
This dog heartworm medication is similar in taste and treatment to Iverheart Plus and also requires a prescription. However, unlike Iverheart Plus, the Max version also treats and controls tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms. While side effects of Iverhart Max are rare, they can include lethargy, limpness, salivation, shaking, diarrhea, decreased appetite, licking lips, and belching. Also, do not give Iverhart Max to your dog if you are already giving a different heartworm medication.
Iverheart Max typically costs about $15 online for dogs weighing six to 12 lbs. and $16 for dogs weighing 12 to 25 lbs.
Revolution
Revolution is a safe and simple monthly topical medication that can be used to protect your dog from heartworms, fleas, and ear mites. It also protects dogs from ticks and sarcoptic mange. Revolution is a safe and simple monthly topical medication that requires a prescription from your veterinarian.
This medication comes as a three-pack for three month’s treatment. It can be purchased online and typically costs around $41 for dogs weighing one to five pounds, $46 for dogs of five to 10 lbs. and $47 for those weighing 10 to 20 lbs.
Revolution costs more than Heartgard Plus and other similar dog heartworm medications because it also protects your dog from fleas and ear mites, among other foreign invaders, and fights both internal and surface parasitic infections. Plus, it treats mange.
Advantage Multi
Advantage Multi is a once a month topical application that contains a combination of the insecticide (imidacloprid) and the parasiticide (moxidectin). It is used for the prevention of heartworm and the treatment and control of flea infestations, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.
Advantage Multi requires a prescription from your vet. Its active ingredient moxidectin prevents and controls heartworms and intestinal worms by disrupting nerve transmission resulting in the paralysis and death of the parasite. The active ingredient of Advantage Multi, imidacloprid, acts on the nervous system of the flea to cause paralysis and subsequent death.
You can purchase this medication online. It typically costs $80 for a six-month’s supply for dogs weighing three to nine pounds, $85 for dogs of nine to 20 lbs. and $90 for dogs of 20 to 55 lbs.
Medication To Cure Dog Heartworm
Almost all veterinarians today use just one drug to treat dogs that have been infected with adult heartworms. It is named Immiticide (melarsomine dihydrochloride). It contains an arsenic compound and is made by the company, Merial.
Immiticide is a very powerful dog heartworm medication and vets will usually assess the dog for other secondary problems before using it. It is injected deep into the dog’s back muscles – twice or three times a day - depending on the class of heartworm infection. This is a painful injection with a painful substance and it is common for the dog to be very sore at home afterwards. Also, your vet may use some pain medication before the injection.
When two doses are used, the dog comes back for a second injection the next day on the opposite side of the lower back. If three doses are required, the dog comes back one month later for two doses, 24 hours apart. This is because if too many worms dye at once, circulatory shock can occur.
After the dog receives this treatment, it must be strictly confined for one month following the final treatment. No walks, no running around. The dog must live the indoor life.
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