Why Your Dog May Need Heartgard

Posted on November 19th, 2007 in Information by heartgard

Heartgard is one of the most popular medications for dogs. Almost every dog-owner and pet-lover has heard of this name from his dog’s veterinarian or colleague. There are several reasons that Heartgard remains one of the popular anti-parasitic agents for dogs.

Heartgard kills the organism Dirofilaria immitis, which is transmitted by a mosquito, at its larval stage. This will prevent the larva from growing into the adult form and being more infective to the host. One drawback, though, is that Heartgard is only effective against the larval form. Thus, if the infection is in the adult stage or in the microfilariae form, another drug or method may be needed before eliminating the larval forms of the organism.

Heartgard has a long duration of efficacy. A single tablet dose of Heartgard is effective for thirty days. To complete the one-year medication, you only have to administer the medicine once a month. Unlike with other medicines, you wouldn’t experience hassles in keeping up with the medication schedule when your dog is using Heartgard.

The margin of safety for Heartgard is wide. It is safe, with no or little adverse reactions when taken at recommended doses. It is also safe for studs, pregnant and breastfeeding dogs, and puppies above six weeks old. Heartgard is also safe to use along with other anti-infective agents, antibiotics and vaccines.

An exception is the collie, which is recorded to be more sensitive to Heartgard compared with other dog breeds. This is why collies may require less dose of Heartgard than other dogs of the same size or age.

Heartgard is available as Heartgard Plus, which is also effective against other worm infections. It contains pyrantel pamoate, which is widely used against many types of worms in mammals. It is effective against hookworm in cats, as well as roundworms. This increases the protection your dog gets from the medicine.

Heartgard is also easy to administer. It is available in chewable tablet form. Like kids, dogs don’t like the taste of medicines. But if dogs were taking their medicines in a chewable tablet form, along with their food, they wouldn’t even notice the difference. What’s good is that Heartgard is also beef-flavored to mask the medicine’s disagreeable flavor.

When administered correctly, Heartgard gives your dog a lot of benefits. Follow the veterinarian’s instructions so that you will know the appropriate dose or Heartgard for your dog. This way, you can help your dog live a healthier life.

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Canine Heartgard-ing

Posted on November 5th, 2007 in Dogs by heartgard

A dog is a man’s best friend. This loveable animal gives undivided love and attention when one needs the most. Having a pet dog is having a responsibility. As owners, we are responsible in providing the best nutrition and medical attention our pet dogs need, as well as a loving home and family. Like humans, dogs are susceptible to diseases and one disease that is fatal when left unnoticed is the heartworm disease. For the best protection and prevention for your pet dogs, Heartgard for dogs is the name.

Heartgard for dogs are made especially for our canine friends starting from pups to adult dogs who are all at risk of getting heartworm. Heartworms are parasites that affect dogs’ hearts and are transmitted through mosquito bites. In the adult stage of the heartworms, these small parasitic worms live in the heart causing heart failure as these feasts on the heart for many years. Dogs infected with heartworm show little signs of progression. For active dogs, these show prevalent symptoms of infection like exhaustion during exercise. If left unnoticed, the symptoms can become fatal like coughing of blood and eventually, heart failure.

Every pet dog is at risk of getting the heartworm disease. That’s why Heartgard for dogs are formulated with ivermectin to prevent the spread of heartworm. Heartgard for dogs come in chewable tablets in beef flavor for easier medication. For just once a year round medication, you are assured that your pet dogs are protected from heartworm. Heartgard for dogs cover almost all types of dogs, from puppies as young as 6 weeks old to pregnant ones. For studs and show dogs, Heartgard for dogs have them covered.

Heartgard for dogs is given as a preventive measure. Most of the time, heartworm disease is undetected during the early stages of infection since some dogs show little or no signs at all. As the first step in determining the presence of the disease, a blood test is needed. Once confirmed, Heartgard for dogs are then given on a once a year cycle as a prevention method. Most veterinarians prescribe Heartgard for dogs to owners as preventive medicine for their canine pets. Heartgard lives up to its name of guarding the hearts of our canine friends, for continued active life and lasting relationship with the owners with its proven safety and effective use to all type of dogs. Heartgard for dogs give the best preventive medicine against heartworm, with or without prescription.

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