Heartworm is one of the most common of the parasites your dog can contract, they can become very ill and treatment is expensive. Prevention is simple and can be done inexpensively. Heartworm is passed from the bites of mosquitoes and the larvae gets into the heart. As they mature the adults block the valves. Generic heartgard is an option to consider when seeking medication for your dog.
Heartworm pills all serve the same purpose, to kill larvae and prevent them from maturing into adults in your dog’s body. They come in a chewable form and are given monthly to prevent infestation. They are also available in a hard tablet that can be mixed in with food or in a liquid form.
The benefit of heartworm prevention is that it will work well and should be started when your puppy is as young as 12 weeks old. Preventing heartworm is much easier than curing it and it is more common in warmer climates that have a long mosquito season. There are also medications that can keep mosquitoes away from your pet.
Before starting treatment discuss options with your vet, your dog should be tested first to make sure that they are not already infected. Killing off large numbers of adult worms can be deadly to your dog. Some breeds are also sensitive to the active ingredient in the pills and could have serious side effects.
Considerations in heartworm medications should include that they are vet recommended or approved, the size should be approved, find out if you need a medication that also controls fleas and ticks, see if it is safe and effective, find out what the ingredients are, determine the cost, ask if there is a guarantee and what is the dosage should be. The ideal medication is easy to administer, is safe and effective and available at a reasonable cost. It should be the right dosage for the size of your pet and if applicable provide protection for the prevention of fleas and ticks.
Some of the top products on the market that prevent heartworm and protection against roundworms include Interceptor, Heartgard and Heartgard Plus, Pro Heart6 and Filarabits. For the prevention of fleas and heartworm there is a medication called Sentinel. To control fleas, ticks and heartworm you can ask for Revolution.
Ivermectin is one of the generic heartworm pills, it’s active ingredients are found in Heartgard, Valuheart, Iverhart and Trihart. It is very inexpensive. Ivermectin works against heartworms and mites and some lice. It is a broad spectrum anti-parasitic that works by changing the nervous systems and muscle function of the heartworms. It is available without a prescription.
Another great medication for your dog is K9 Advantix. It controls fleas, ticks and mosquitoes in dogs within 12 hours. It is a very effective medication to keep your dog safe from ticks and mosquitoes. It has long term effects and works even after giving your dog a bath. Another medication for you pet is Petcam. It is used to control pain in dogs, Meloxicam is the main ingredient. Generic heartgard and other pet medications can be purchased online but a vet should oversee any administration of medications for your pet.
