Finding The Best Heartworm Medicine For Dogs

Finding The Best Heartworm Medicine For Dogs

Heartworms are nasty parasites that affect millions of dogs every year. It’s a shame that so many helpless lives are lost when the disease is so easily prevented.

What are heartworms?

They are very big parasites (adults are approximately 14 inches!) that find their way into the pulmonary arteries of dogs. Dogs often become infected with a heartworm’s larvae following a mosquito bite. Heartworms are extremely easily spread because all it takes is for a mosquito to bite an infected dog and then follow with a bite to yours.

An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure

Ever hear that expression? Of course you have! Well, no beloved family pet ever has to suffer from heartworm disease when it is so easy to prevent! There are tons of excellent heartworm medicines for dogs. Some even contain flea preventatives.

Here’s a list of some of the more common one’s on the market:

Heartgard- This is a name that is synonymous with heartworm prevention. There are very little side effects associated with this product (you can even get it to pregnant dogs) and it is widely available, both online and at your vet’s office. My dog, Sam, takes the chewable version of this one. (The main reason why I use this brand.) There’s also a Heartgard Plus that prevents hookworms and roundworms, as well as heartworms.  Save 80% on Heartgard Plus by buying it online at Pet Care Choice.  Yeah, it’s a plug, but it starts at $15 there for a 6 month supply of the generic version.  I challenge you to find it cheaper at your vet!

Interceptor- This medicine uses an ingredient called Milbemycin oxime to prevent heartworm disease, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm.  It starts at about $28 online.

Iverhart Max- This is another chewable heartworm preventative.  In my experience, it has no side effects, but isn’t quite as tasty as others.  By the way, that’s what my dog says, I’m not speaking from personal experience   What I liked about this one was that it has additional ingredients that take care of tapeworms, too.  And at $16 for a 6 month supply, the price is right.

Revolution-This is the cadillac of heartworm medicine for dogs!  It’s what’s  referred to as a “broad spectrum” medication.  It combats both internal and external parasites.  That means that not only will your dog be completely protected against worms, but flea infestation as well.  It kills both adult fleas and their larvae.  I almost forgot, it knocks out ear mites, too.  It is a little bit pricier ($39 for 6 months), but when compared to the price of using a heartworm medicine and a flea topical, it makes sense.  You can Save 80% on Revolution for dogs at Pet Care Choice.
There are a number of other medications on the market that prevent heartworm disease.  If you don’t want to try the one’s above, try another brand, but whatever you do…prevent your dog from having to needlessly suffer.  Not to mention, prevention is sooo much cheaper than treating a sick animal at the vet!

Related Posts:

• Dog Worms: How To Identify, Prevent And Treat Them
• When To Give Heartwormers
• Heartgard Plus