Heartworm Medicine: Pro-Active Medicine To Fight Heartworm
Every pet has needs and can be pampered, but health care is a fundamental requirement for each. The prevention of hearworms in your dog or cat certainly fits that category.
Preventing heartworm infection is as easy as obtaining heartworm medicine from your veterinarian. To learn more about preventive heartworm medication, including different types of drugs and their effectiveness, keep reading.
Types of Heartworm Drugs
The pills approved for heartworm prevention in the U.S. are milbemycin (sold under the brand Interceptor and Sentinel), ivermectin (sold as Heartgard and as a generic drug), and moxidectin (sold as ProHeart). All these are typically sold in chewable or pill form.
Moxidectin is also available as an injection that covers either a 6-month or 12-month period and is administered by a veterinarian, but not in the United States. Pet owners in Japan, Canada, Australia and Korea can obtain moxidectin injections under the brand names ProHeart6 and ProHeart12.
Feline owners can turn to products like selamectin, a topical cream which is typically known as Revolution for Feline; ivermectin, also known as Heartgard, but for cats; and milbemycin, also known as Interceptor.
Effectiveness of Heartworm Medicine
Preventive heartworm drugs are very effective and when regularly administered will protect more than 99% of cats and dogs from heartworm infection.
Usually, if a heartworm medication fails, it is because of pet owner error - the person did not administer the heartworm pills on schedule or did so incorrectly. That said, the monthly doses are fairly effective, so if a month is missed, most animals are still protected as long as the next two month’s doses are administered on time.
How to Use Heartworm Medication
You should start your heartworm drug regimen at least a month before mosquito season begins. Then, the monthly treatment should continue through mosquito season and for a month afterward. Of course, ask your veterinarian for guidance and medical advice.
In warm climates, like tropical and subtropical regions, heartworm prevention medicine should be administered year round. Some veterinarians even recommend year-round use in cooler climates, on the off-chance that a warm spell could lead to mosquito activity.
Most heartworm drugs are available as chewable tablets. For pets that don’t like taking pills, veterinarians often recommend hiding the pills in their food.
Possible Side Effects
Side effects for heartworm prevention medications are rare, but this is partly because it’s difficult to spot those that aren’t blatant. For example, a dog can’t let you or your veterinarian know that his tummy is sore or he’s slightly nauseous.
Despite a lack of apparent side effects, overdoses of heartworm medicine can be very dangerous and should be treated immediately. Signs of overdose include tremors, vomiting, diarrhea and lack of coordination.
