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Pet Medication Home -> Dog Heartworm
Heartgard Plus is The #1
Choice Of Veterinarians For Heartworm Disease Prevention! Heartgard
Plus also Treats and Controls Roundworms and Hookworms.
Dog heartworm
Understanding how your dog can contract heartworm
disease may help you understand just how important it is to prevent
this from happening. For a dog heartworm disease is not just something
that can be prevented by exercise or by nutrition.
Heartworms are transmitted by 30 different species
of mosquitoes. Even if you dog has long hair he can still be bitten
by a mosquito. These heartworms can survive up to 5 years and, during
this time, the female produces millions of young worms called microfilaria.
These microfilaria live in the bloodstream, usually in the small
blood vessels.
The immature heartworms cannot complete the entire
life cycle in the dog; the mosquito is required for some stages
of the heartworm life cycle. The microfilaria can not grow to adulthood
in the dog, although they do cause problems. When the heartworms
are fully developed, the infective larvae enter the bloodstream
and move to the heart and adjacent vessels, where they grow to maturity
in 2 to 3 months and start reproducing, this is how they complete
the full life cycle.
Do not worry if your dog has other doggie friends.
Heartworms can not be transmitted from one dog to another. The only
way they can be transmitted is through the mosquito. Even if your
dog does have heartworms, this condition usually has no outward
signs for many years. It is also hard to determine if your dog has
heartworms in the earliest of stages even with a blood test.
For your dog, heartworms can cause clogging of the
heart and major blood vessels which lead to the heart. Heartworms
interfere with the valve action in the heart. Heartworms clog the
main blood vessels, which causes the blood supply to other organs
of the body to be reduced, particularly the lungs, liver and kidneys,
which will lead to malfunction of these organs.
The most common signs of dog heartworm disease are
a soft, dry, chronic cough, shortness of breath, weakness, nervousness,
listlessness, and loss of stamina. These signs are usually noted
after exercising.
If your dog does in fact have any of these symptoms,
you should contact your veterinarian. The best way to ensure that
your dog does not contract heartworms is in the prevention. You
should also talk with your veterinarian to find out ways to prevent
this often fatal disease from ever occurring.
With a simple veterinary
visit, pet owners can obtain a heartworm treatment like Heartgard
Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), the number one veterinarian-recommended
heartworm preventive. This simple monthly treatment protects against
heartworm, as well as controls intestinal parasites, like roundworms
and hookworms. Additionally, HEARTGARD Plus is the only heartworm
treatment in a real-beef Chewable that dogs and cats love to take
and owners prefer to give.
What the vet says
Heartgard Plus is an extremely
effective drug for the prevention of parasites. Heartworms are
present in most parts of the United States and in many parts
of North America. |
Heartgard Plus Is The #1 Choice Of Veterinarians
For Heartworm Treatment! Only Heartgard Plus Comes In A Real-beef
Chewable That Dogs and Cats Love. Heartgard Plus Also Treats And
Controls Roundworms And Hookworms. It Is Approved For Use In Puppies
As Young As 6 Weeks, Small Dogs Regardless Of Weight, Pregnant Or
Breeding Bitches, Stud Dogs, And Collies. Heartgard Plus Is 100%
Effective Against Heartworms, And Treats And Controls Other Dangerous
Parasites. 6 Oral Monthly Doses.
Heartgard Plus FAQ
Generic Name
Ivermectin (eye-ver-mek’-tin) Plus
Brand Name(s)
Heartgard Plus (Merial), Iverhart Plus (Virbac)
What is this medication used for
Heartgard Plus is an anthelminthic (dewormer) used for the prevention
of heartworm disease in dogs. When combined with pyrantel pamoate
it is also used for treating roundworm and hookworm in dogs.
How Heartgard Plus should be used
Heartgard Plus is given once a month year round for the prevention
of heartworm disease. The usual dose of Heartgard Plus in dogs up
to 25 pounds is 68mcg/57mg, for 26-50 pounds is 136mcg/114mg and
for 51-100 pounds is 272mcg/227mg. Dogs over 100 pounds are given
a combination of tablets. The chewable tablets should be chewed.
They are not meant to be swallowed whole. For dogs that normally
swallow treats whole, the tablet can be broken into pieces. As an
alternate to year round dosing, this medication can be given during
the mosquito season and for one month after the season ends.
What are the side effects of Heartgard Plus
The side effects of Heartgard Plus are rare at the recommended heartworm
prevention dose. Higher doses in dogs may cause tremors, dilated
pupils, and loss of body weight or death. Side effects in cats include
agitation, loss of appetite, staggering, dilated pupils, tremors,
blindness and disorientation.
What special precautions are there
Heartgard Plus should not be used in animals allergic to it. Use
with caution in Collies. Heartworm testing should be performed prior
to the start of prevention therapy. If the animal is off Heartgard
Plus for 6 months or less, start the medication and test after 6
months since microfilaria, that take 6 months to mature, will result
in a positive test result. Because humans can contract roundworm,
hookworm and tapeworm from animals, it is important to maintain
good personal hygiene. It is also important to eliminate fleas on
the pet and in the household and to not feed the pet rodents or
uncooked meat or fish. To prevent reinfection, daily cleanup of
stools is recommended.
In the event of an overdose
Contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency room. Symptoms
of overdose may include vomiting, diarrhea, and incoordination in
dogs.
How should I store this medication
Keep this medication in the original box. Do not remove the tablet
from the wrapper until ready to give the medicine. Store this medicine
at room temperature. Keep this medication out of the reach of children
and pets.
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