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.

Tags: K9, Heartworm, Pet, Pet Medicine, Cat