Heartgard

There are a number of heartworm prevention and treatment pills in the market today that dog owners can choose from. Aside from having different flavours and shapes, heartworm pills have a variety of potencies that address specific parasite problems of dogs. Outlining their characteristics and composition can help dog owners determine which heartworm pill is suited for their pet’s particular needs.

Most heartworms can be lethal if they are not addressed immediately and appropriately. Without a heartworm pill to protect and cure infections, a pet could develop a deadly heartworm disease that could be more expensive to treat in the long run. Luckily, all heartworm diseases can be prevented through timely medication.

Currently, there are four brands of heartworm pills commonly prescribed by veterinarians. These are the Interceptor, Sentinel, Heartgard Plus, and Iverhart Plus. Because they are especially flavoured and come in different sizes, all these Heartworm pills can be orally introduced to your pet dog without much hassle. The Sentinel and Interceptor both contain the Milbemycin Oxime, an active ingredient that prevents heartworms. Both also address other infections that may be caused by roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Products like Sentinel have a special additive called Lufenuron, which helps contain fleas as well.

Heartgard and sister heartworm pill products Iverhart and Tri-heart, on the other hand, similarly prevent heartworms but use extra active substances such as Ivermectin and Pyrantel that also kill roundworms and hookworms. Heartgard products, in fact, boast of being able to combat more types of hookworms than the other brands, although they cannot control whipworms as Interceptor and Sentinel can. Nevertheless, Heartgard remains the least expensive of all the current products. It has also been a popular heartworm pill prescribed by veterinarians because of its versatility — providing pet owners with a variety of flavours to choose from – and a more comprehensive approach to parasite control.

All of the mentioned heartworm pill medications are effective in their own right. But to determine which product would best suit your pet’s needs, you must first identify your pet’s particular parasite problem. In combating heartworms and roundworms, Interceptor and Heartgard plus have claimed to be equally effective. For problems specifically involving hookworms, Heartgard plus is the preferred pill. If the parasite problem involves whipworms on the other hand, the Interceptor is apparently the most suited for the job.

Before making your choice, however, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian for expert advice. Only after several tests for heartworm infection have been conducted on your pet can the appropriate brand be determined. This is very important as some dogs may respond differently to various heartworm pills. Some dogs have allergic reactions to specific flavour tabs, so it’s best to apprise your veterinarian about your pet’s medical history. Also, some heartworm pills require a prescription, so don’t automatically introduce a heartworm regimen to your dog without the doctor’s approval. Having information about a specific heartworm pill helps in making informed choices that in the end could save your pet’s life.

Tags: Cat, Dogs, Heartgard, Cats, Pet