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Pet Medication Home -> Heartgard Chewable
Heartworm Disease Is 100%
Preventable With Heartgard Chewable For Cats! Only Heartgard For
Cats Comes In A Palatable Meaty Chewable Formulation.
My cat Charlie is
5 years old, and now has completely recovered from a period of illness
caused by feline heartworm disease. At the time I was devastated
and terribly concerned - now I'm glad I found a cure.
A year ago he would
awake in the night gasping for breath. His heart rate was racing
intermittently and he was coughing. He seemed lazy, which was a
surprise for such a previously active cat who loved being outside.
He started to lose a lot of weight before I discovred that he was
suffering from heartworm disease.
I even discovered
that in severe cases heartworm disease can lead to sudden death.
To my eternal gratitude I discovered that there is
a preventive medication to prevent your cat from getting heartworm
disease.
Heartgard chewable tablets for cats can be given once
a month to kill infective larvae before reaching the adult stage.
Since positive animals cannot be treated it is recommended they
also be put on preventive medication so their condition does not
worsen.
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Charlie - a happy cat |
What the vet says
Heartgard
chewable 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. While cats are more
resistant to heartworm than dogs, the presence of even a single
adult heartworm in a cat can result in very serious consequences.
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Heartgard is a chewable tablet taken monthly
to prevent heartworm disease in cats. Also kills other parasites
such as pinworms, intestinal threadworms, ascarid and hookworm infections
in cats. FDA approved.
Heartgard Chewable
FAQ
Generic Name
Ivermectin (eye-ver-mek’-tin)
Brand Name(s)
Heartgard (Merial)
What is Heartgard Chewable used for?
Heartgard is an anthelminthic (dewormer) used for the prevention
of heartworm disease in dogs and cats. Heartgard is also used for
the control of hookworm in cats.
How Heartgard Chewable should be used
Heartgard is given once a month year round for the prevention of
heartworm disease. The usual dose of Heartgard in cats 5 pounds
or less is 55mcg and for cats 6-15 pounds is 165mcg. The chewable
tablets should be chewed. They are not meant to be swallowed whole.
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 Chewable?
The side effects of Heartgard are rare at the recommended heartworm
prevention dose. Side effects in cats include agitation, loss of
appetite, staggering, dilated pupils, tremors, blindness and disorientation.
What special precautions are there?
This medication should not be used in animals allergic to it. Heartworm
testing should be performed prior to the start of prevention therapy.
If the animal is off Heartgard 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 hookworm 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. The symptoms of overdose in cats may include disorientation,
tremors, incoordination, and blindness
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