Discover the top rated dog heartworm prevention products! Keep your beloved dog healthy and happy with our carefully curated list of the best solutions available on the market.
The Reality of Heartworm Disease:
Heartworm infection is a life-threatening disease spread by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites your dog, they spread heartworm larvae into your dog’s blood.
“The larvae eventually grow in size and travel to your dog’s heart and pulmonary artery. If left untreated, these parasites can grow up to a foot long.”
As heartworms grow and reproduce in your dog’s body, they can cause serious health concerns throughout your dog’s life.
Affected dogs may have symptoms such as:
- Yellow gums
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Difficulty breathing
- Sensitive stomach
- Kidney failure
It only takes one mosquito bite to put your pet’s health at risk. This is why annual heartworm tests and preventative medications are important in your dog’s life.
What is Heartworm Prevention?
Heartworm preventatives work retroactively to treat developing heartworm infections. This means it works to prevent the growth of heartworm larvae in your dog’s body.
Using a heartworm preventative is the best way to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. And, the best preventative products can also protect your pet from other internal parasites like hookworms and roundworms.
Heartworm medication comes in different forms:
- Chewable tablets
- Gentle chewing.
- Treatment of conditions
- The injection
Topical treatments are applied monthly and divided into weighting intervals. The injection is given by a veterinarian every 6 or 12 months.
If your pet uses a chewable pill or other oral medication for heartworm, it usually comes in three weight ranges for small, medium and large dogs. For extra large dogs, you may need to combine heartworm prevention doses to cover your dog’s weight.
What to look for in Heartworm Preventatives?
When choosing a preventative medicine for your dog, there are important factors you should look for. The following are the 5 best heartworm prevention pet medications.
1. Prevent the growth of heartworm larvae.
The best heartworm preventatives prevent heartworms from getting out of the larval stage. These parasitic worms are harmless to your dog, until they develop into adult heartworms.
2. Cover hookworms and roundworms.
Consider choosing a heartworm medication that also treats internal parasites in your dog’s body, such as hookworms and roundworms. These parasites can harm your dog’s health and require more trips to the vet for treatment.
3. Made with safe and effective ingredients.
The active ingredients in the heartworm medication you choose should be doctor-grade and FDA-approved.
The most common active ingredient in heartworm pet medications is ivermectin, but other preventative medications use ingredients such as:
- Melbimycin oxime
- Moxidectin
- Selamectin
- Pyrantel
4. Do not create negative reactions.
Most dogs should have no allergic reactions or side effects from their heartworm medication. If your dog has an adverse reaction after receiving heartworm medication, see your vet immediately for a dog checkup.
Some herding dog breeds and mixed-breed dogs carry a genetic mutation called MDR1. The MDR1 gene causes sensitivity to ivermectin.
Some common breeds that are prone to the MDR1 gene include:
- Australian Shepherd
- Border collie
- Collie
- German shepherd
- The Old English Sheepdog
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Miniature American Shepherd
- The Sky Terrier
- Mixed breeds that may have shepherd heritage.
- No matter what breed of dog you have, talk to your veterinarian about the best heartworm prevention option.
5. Delivered every month.
Most heartworm preventatives come in packs of three or six. This means pet parents have to remember to treat their dogs every month.
“Look for a product that works for you by delivering your pet’s food every month when they need it.”
Types of Heartworm Medications for Dogs
When it comes to heartworm medication, there are many options on the market for dog owners. When choosing a heartworm preventative, consider your pet’s current health, needs, and other pet medications they may be taking.
Heartgard® Plus:
Heartgard uses active ingredients including ivermectin and pyrantel to treat heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms in dogs. HeartGuard Plus is a soft chew that comes in a 6- or 12-month supply.
Triheart Plus:
Triheart Plus is a chewable tablet that comes in a 6-month supply. It contains the same active ingredients as Heartgard Plus.
Advantage Multi®:
Advantage Multi is a topical treatment that treats heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and ear mites in dogs. It also treats adult fleas on dogs, however, it does not prevent or kill ticks, mosquitoes, flea eggs, or flea larvae.
Samparika Trio:
Simarica Trio is a chewable pill that kills fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, and ticks on dogs. These are heartworms, hookworms and roundworms It also prevents Like Advantage Multi, Samprica Trio does not repel fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heartworm Prevention:l
Pet parents need to understand the ins and outs of preventative medicine for dogs. Here are some frequently asked questions about heartworm prevention.
Is heartworm treatment the same as prevention?
No. Heartworm treatment is for dogs with heartworm disease. Heartworm preventative is for healthy dogs that do not test positive for heartworm.
Are prescriptions necessary for heartworm medications?
Yes, you need a prescription from a doctor for TriHeart, HeartGuard Plus, HeartDefense, or heartworm prevention.
What is the best way to prevent heartworms?
The best way to prevent heartworm infection is monthly prevention. Keep your pet’s safety in mind and choose prevention to keep your dog safe from illness.
Can an infected animal spread a heartworm infection?
Heartworm is spread between animals by infected mosquitoes. If your dog has the disease and comes into contact with other dogs and cats, they cannot spread the disease.
Can my dog get heartworm from cats or guinea pigs?
Heartworm infections cannot be spread from cats or guinea pigs to dogs. But, pet owners with dogs and cats should also protect their cats against heartworm infection through regular check-ups.
What pet medications are available without a prescription?
There are many pet medications that you can get for your dog without a doctor’s prescription. For example, you can buy flea and tick protection without a doctor’s prescription.