Heartworms Dogs and Cats

Discount Heartworm Medicine

2010-04-20T09:31:00.000+01:00

As the heartworm parasite travels and becomes more common throughout the US, Europe and Australasia the number of pet owners searching for Discount Heartworm Medicine grows. Here at the Heartworms Dogs and Cats site we are always searching for great deals on all manner of heartworm medications.

Just because we want the cheapest heartworm preventatives though, we do not want to compromise on quality. That is why we tend to suggest buying your heartworm pills or spot on treatments from Canadian pet pharmacies. For a start their prices tend to be far lower than those in the US or UK. Secondly many of the biggest names in heartworm medicine for dogs and cat are sold their without a prescription. Though buying prescription pet meds online is perfectly possible, it is of course quicker if you do not need to arrange a prescription from your vet and then send it to the online store before they ship your order.

The great thing about buying pet meds such as dog heartworm medicine from a Canadian pharmacy is that you know you are getting exactly the same product that you would at home. The rules and regulations regarding such products are of course just as stringent as they are at home. Occasionally the packet will be slightly different, with measurements in metric rather than imperial for example. But more importantly, what is contained withing that packet is identical to the product you would buy from your local bricks and mortar store. Well, identical apart from the price tag of course.

It doesn't matter whether you want branded heartworm pills such as Heartgard Plus for Dogs, or cheaper alternatives such as generic Nuheart. Even newer topical heartworm medicine such as Revolution for Cats and Dogs or Advantage Multi are available at extremely low prices and prescription free.

We hope that because every pet owners can now benefit from cheaper pet medicines, and particularly cheap heartworm medicine more dogs and cats will be kept healthier for longer. With less worry about costs it is far easier to ensure your pets meds are kept up to date. The temptation to skip treatments is of course lessened when costs are reduced by such large amounts. Switching to generics can more than half the bill even when compared to the lowest priced online sources of the branded original. As more generic heartworm medicines become available more and more pet owners will be able to take advantage of cheaper prices and still great quality products to keep their pets safe.

Along the side we provide links to a wide range of Discount Heartworm Medicine. Click the links and you are taken directly to the secure online pharmacy store that is currently providing the best deals and the cheapest prices for a whole range of online pet medications. At the top we have listed the current best selling heartworm medicines, so you have a quick way to find the best deals on the most popular products.

Nuheart No Prescription

2010-03-11T13:57:00.000Z

Nuheart Heartworm Medicine is fast becoming one of the most widely used forms of heartworm prevention for dogs. The reason is pretty simple. Why pay anything up to double the price, merely to buy branded Heartgard Heartworm Pills? And, when you can also buy Nuheart, No Prescription needed you're definitely onto a winning combination. To buy these and a wide range of other heartworm medicines without a prescription simply click through the links above or to the side.

After all, once you decide to use any form of heartworm preventative for your dog it is something you will continue using forever. Okay, you might decide to skip treatments during the winter months (though most vets do advise against this). But, if mosquitoes are active your dog needs to be given their medication to prevent any future occurrence of the disease. That all means a regular bill for you the pet owner.

The branded version is of course well known, tried and tested. But now that the FDA license generic heartgard pills why not take advantage and buy Nuheart instead? The FDA require that all generics are identical as far as their medicinal value is concerned. So whether you buy Nuheart Heartworm Pills or the branded version your pet will receive exactly the same dose of ivermectin, the ingredient that prevents the disease occurring.

The reason you can buy Nuheart without a prescription here is that the online pet pharmacy we have found and linked to, is Canadian based. There no prescription is required to administer Nuheart and several other forms of preventative too. Of course the product is identical to what you could get at home. But it is far cheaper and no RX is needed.

All this means you not only provide complete care for your pet, but also get to save some time and money when purchasing Nuheart - No Prescription Required. This means Fido stays healthy without you worrying the bank manager too much - Fabulous!

Sentinel Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

2010-01-25T15:51:00.002Z

Buy Sentinel Flavor Tabs for Dogs

Sentinel Flavor Tabs offer an alternative to the Heartgard style ivermectin based monthly heartworm pills. This is particularly useful for owners of collie type breeds that are concerned about apparent health risks for collies given ivermectin.

Sentinel Heartworm Prevention & Other Parasites

As well as given complete prevention of heartworm disease by destroying larval heartworms, Sentinel also controls a wide range of other parasites both external and internal. Flea eggs are destroyed to prevent flea infestations and intestinal parasites (hookworm, roundworm and whipworm) are also destroyed with each Sentinel Flavor Tab.

Sentinel Best Price

Looking at various large online pet medicine outlets we found the best priced discount Sentinel for Dogs available through the links here. Our most recent price comparison for Sentinel was carried out on 25th Jan 2010. We checked prices for a six month supply of Sentinel tablets for a dog weighing between 11 and 25 lbs. The prices we found varied widely from $74.99 with 1800petmeds.com to $62.91 with petsupplies4less.com. But our best price was that linked to above and at the side, coming in at a far more reasonable price of $57.

Generic Sentinel Heartworm Pills

At the moment there is still no generic alternative to Sentinel for preventing heartworm disease in dogs. So the best choice to buy the cheapest Sentinel Flavor Tabs available online in branded form.

Sentinel and Prescription

Sentinel is an FDA regulated pet medicine that is only available with a prescription. Simply send a copy of your veterinary prescription to the online store after placing your order. On receipt of this prescription your cheap Sentinel heartworm prevention will be dispatched.

Sentinel Flavor Tabs for Dogs

Sentinel heartworm pills are supplied as a tasty flavorsome treat that most dogs really enjoy. They can be given to dogs from as young as four weeks of age, weighing over 2 lbs. To ensure your dog never experiences heartworm disease it is advised that Sentinel are used year round. In some areas with extremely seasonal mosquito activity vets confirm that such heartworm preventatives may be used solely during the warmer months. Your vet is best placed to know the instance of the disease in your locality.

Buying Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Without a Prescription

2010-01-07T16:21:00.000Z

It is now possible to buy a wide range of Heartworm Medicine for Dogs without a Prescription. The key is knowing where to buy this pet medication from. All the online pet medicine stores based in the United States must by law request a prescription from your vet before they can despatch your hearworm medicines order.

But in other regions the government do not see many heartworm preventatives as a prescription only product. A few, such as Interceptor and Sentinel may require a prescription. But, the vast majority - including heartworm pills such as Nuheart Pills and Heartgard Plus for Dogs, and topicals such as Revolution for Dogs and Advantage Multi for Dogs can be bought without needing to involve your vet.

In addition, because there is less regulation there are far more opportunities to buy cheaper pet med products too. Not only will your dog's heartworm pills be prescription free, they are likely to be much cheaper than those available closer to home.

We are not talking about buying from any far flung corner of the world where you would need be concerned at all. No, simply buy from a Canadian pharmacy such as the one we have linked to at the side (due to their low prices and quick service) and you can enjoy exactly the same medicinal products as those supplied by your own vet, but at a fraction of the cost.

With more of us heeding the advice of The FDA and Heartworm Society, and so giving our dog's monthly heartworm preventatives it makes sense to ensure the purchases are economical as well as simple. Buying heartworm medicine for dogs without a prescription ensures you enjoy the swiftest order experience possible. Of course do not forget your vet entirely. They are a fantastic resource for more information on which products best suit your pet, and when year round or only seasonal protection is required. They are the first port of call for any health issues and that first heartworm test prior to beginning use of any preventative too. But, however valuable and indeed brilliant our vets are there is simply no need to be beholden to their prices when bigger online pet pharmacies can offer such greatly reduced prices and the benefit of prescription free pet meds in some cases.

Monthly Dog Heartworm Pills

2009-11-14T12:57:00.003Z

Monthly Dog Heartworm Pills are a simple way to ensure your canine pet never experiences the problems associated with heartworm disease. There are currently three different sorts of canine heartworm tablets available. Several brands are available for the first, since it has been around for the longest time. Currently there are not generic versions of the other two types. Eachheartworm tablet is used in the same way, but includes a different active ingredient that actually does the work of controlling these troublesome parasites.

#1 Heartgard and Generic Heartgard

Heartgard was the first monthly dog heartworm pill to be developed. The key ingredient used is ivermectin. This is the same ingredient used (in larger quantities) to treat dogs that test positive for heartworm disease. The makers of Heartgard have since introduced Heartgard Plus. This contains the same heartworm preventative but with an additional ingredient that controls intestinal worms (roundworms and hookworms).

Ordinary Heartgard are available either in tablet form or as a beefy chewable treat. Heartgard Plus is currently sold only in chewable treat form. Dogs with beef allergies should not be given these chewables.

Generic Heartgard and Generic Heartgard Plus have both been developed, and are now offering a cheaper source of heartworm prevention for dog owners. Nuheart tablets and Valuheart are Australian made generic versions of Heartgard offering savings of 40 to 50% and have now become so well known they are brands in their own right. Generic Heartgard Plus may be bought in tablet or chewable treat form.

Triheart Plus is another ivermectin based monthly heartworm pill. In addition pyrantel is included to control hookworm and roundworm in dogs. These are a much cheaper version of Heartgard Plus, but are only available with a prescription.

Following the links at the side takes you to an online pet pharmacy that currently sell Heartgard, Nuheart, Valuheart, Heartgard Plus, Generic Heartgard and Generic Heartgard Plus without a prescription.

The key ingredient in these dog heartworm pills, ivermectin, can cause adverse reactions is certain collie type breeds of dog. Though these problems are only associated with much higher doses ofivermectin than that contained in a monthly heartworm tablet, many collie owners prefer to use a different method of heartworm prevention.

#2 Proheart Heartworm Pills

Proheart is another cheap heartworm pill, this time using Moxidectin to destroy larval heartworms. These are not found so often in the United States but are widely used in Australia and Europe. They are suitable for all breeds of dog including collies and breeding dogs too. They offer a much cheaper alternative to Heartgard and so are beginning to gain popularity with pet owners worldwide.

Again Proheart is available without prescription via the links to the side.

#3 Interceptor and Sentinel Flavor Tabs

Interceptor Flavor Tabs are the final variety of monthly heartworm pill for dogs available today. These use Milbemyclin Oxine to destroy larval stage heartworms. Again these are safe for all breeds of dog including puppies. As this destroys heartworm parasites extremely quickly it is crucial that you know your dog is not hearworm positive prior to using these.

Sentinel Flavor Tabs are the sister product to Interceptor. Again made by Novartis they use Milbemyclin Oxine to prevent adult heartworms developing. In addition they include another active ingredient; Lufenuron which is an insect development inhibitor. This additional ingredient destroys a wide range of parasites including, adult hookworm, roundworm andwhipworm. In addition to these internal parasites, the Lufenuron also controls fleas by preventing the development of flea eggs. Used regularly this will control the flea population adequately, but in is useful to use an adult flea killer such asCapstar when you first switch to this method of flea control.

Both Interceptor and Sentinel Heartworm Pills are only available with a prescription. Both are produced in a flavor tab form which is acceptable to most dogs.

Monthly Dog Heartworm Pills

All three sorts of monthly Dog Heartworm Pills have their fans and advantages. All work to prevent heartworm for dogs in a similar way, and to a completely effective degree. The additional knowledge of which ingredients you are happy to use and whether you wish to save money, or combine the control of other parasites with yourheartworm prevention will help determine which product is right for you and your dog.

Heartgard for Dogs Alternative

2009-10-23T14:26:00.000+01:00

Heartworm Pills are proven to be effective at preventing heartworm disease. The leading brand is Heartgard for Dogs. These are based on one active ingredient (Ivermectin) that destroys any larval parasites picked up via a bite from a mosquito. This method of heartworm prevention is safe and pretty much foolproof, but is there and Alternative to Heartgard for Dogs?

Heartgard Alternatives

At the moment there are four common types of medicine that can easily prevent heartworm disease, but the Ivermectin based products such as Heartgard for Dogs are by far the cheapest and mildest. Luckily, since these heartworm pills have been in use for quite some time, there are now several alternatives that are medicinally identical to choose from.

These Generic Heartworm Pills are anything up to 50% cheaper than branded Heartgard. But as they have now also been around for some time, there are various options to choose from.

Nuheart Heartworm Pills

These offer exactly the same medicinal value as Heartgard but are significantly cheaper. At the moment you are able to buy Nuheart without a prescription via the links at the side. These come as small meat flavored tablets. They can be dissolved in a little water and mixed with your dog's ordinary food if they are averse to taking their medication in pill form.

Valuheart Heartworm Pills

Like Nuheart, Valuheart heartworm pills have been around for quite some time. Again they are identical as far as dosage and quality of the active ingredients and so will provide exactly the same protection against the disease in canines. Currently Valuheart are available via the links at the side without a veterinarian's prescription.

Valuheart are extremely economical, being provided in simple tablet form

Generic Heartgard for Dogs

Both Nuheart and Valuheart are actually simply generic forms of Heartgard. But they are so popular they have now become well known brands in their own right. A more basic style of packaging, and a lack of name accompanies Generic Heartgard for Dogs. These contain identical doses of ivermectin and provide equally efficient protection for dogs. They come in a wider variety of forms, being sold as simple tablets and chewable beefy treats.

If you are happy with everything about Heartgard except the price try one of these equivalent Heartgard Alternatives. All offer the same protection for our pets but at a fraction of the price.

Sentinel for Dogs

2009-09-16T06:38:00.001+01:00

Sentinel Heartworm medicine is another combined heartworm, internal parasite and flea control product. This is produced by Novartis, and literally takes Interceptor Heartworm Tablets one step further, by including a mild yet effective flea control ingredient in the Sentinel formulation.

Sentinel should be used on a monthly basis to ensure complete heartworm prevention for your dog. In addition they will also control whipworms, roundworms and hookworms. Plus, flea eggs are destroyed which over time proves an effective method of flea protection.

Cheapest Sentinel Heartworm Tabs

We believe we've located the Best Priced Sentinel Heartworm Tabs available. Check the prices below...

Sentinel Flavor Tabs - Brown 2 - 10lbs $55 for 6 pack or $93 for 12 pack

Sentinel Flavor Tabs - Green 11 - 25lbs $57 for 6 pack or $98 for 12 pack

Sentinel Flavor Tabs - Yellow 26 - 50lbs $63 for 6 pack or $113 for 12 pack

Sentinel Flavor Tabs - White 51 - 100lbs $68 for 6 pack or $126 for 12 pack

This truly is the Cheapest Sentinel Heartworm Medicine available. Place your order and it will be dispatched from a registered pharmacy once your prescription is received. Faxed prescriptions are fine, or you can mail them if you prefer.

Sentinel for Dogs

These heartworm pills come in the form of a beefy, flavorsome tablet that most dogs are happy to take as a treat, making medicine time so much easier. The two active ingredients in Sentinel for Dogs are Milbemycin oxime and Lufenuron. One tackles internal parasites and the other deals with external ones.

Used each month the Milbemycin oxime destroys any larval or tissue stage heartworms whilst also killing adult hookworm, roundworm and whipworm. Lufenuron is an insect development inhibitor which stops flea eggs from hatching or growing into adults. It breaks the flea life-cycle thus controlling the local population. Lufenuron does not kill adult fleas, so when switching to Sentinel for Dogs, most pet owners use Capstar Flea Control to destroy any adult fleas in the locality.

Using Sentinel Heartworm Medicine

Sentinel is an oral heartworm medicine for dogs. Prior to starting heartworm preventatives, dogs should be taken for a heartworm test. Once given the all clear, Sentinel Heartworm Medicine is safe to use on any breed of dog. From 4 weeks, weighing 2 lbs or more, Sentinel will prevent heartworm disease developing by destroying larval stage heartworm which have been passed to the dog by an infected mosquito bite.

Sentinel is a monthly dog heartworm medicine. Dogs should be given Sentinel every 30 days to prevent heartworms. Watch your pet closely to check they swallow the whole Flavor Tab. If they do not you may give them another full dose to ensure they are fully protected.

It is supplied in four color coded packs, from Sentinel Brown for very small dogs weighing 2 to 10lbs up to Sentinel White for very large dogs weighing 51 to 100 lbs. Ensure you buy the correct sized dose depending on the weight of your pet.

Sentinel Heartworm Pills Side Effects

Sentinel Heartworm Pills are an FDA licensed form of heartworm prevention with a great safety record. Adverse reactions to the Flavor Tabs are rare. Occasionally dogs may experience depression, drowsiness, vomiting, itching, hives, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or seizures. It is important always to watch your pet after using any pets medicine and contact your vet if any reactions persist.

Sentinel for Dogs offers a mild and effective form of heartworm prevention alongside a total intestinal de-wormer. Eliminating flea eggs too amkes for one complete, all round method of parasite control.

Generic Heartgard Plus Chewables

2009-08-27T12:10:00.001+01:00

Here at Heartworms, Dogs and Cats we talk a lot about Generic Heartworm Medicine. That's because it is the fastest growing sector of the heartworm prevention market. Unsurprising when discounts of up to 50% can be made, simply by opting out of the branded product.

The only issue with generics is that sometimes they look a little different to the brands, so the tablet may be a different size, shape or colour for example and where a brand offers a 'flavor tab' or 'chewable' option, sometimes the generics do not. This was one concern with Generic Heartgard Plus, but no longer, as we are please to announce that Generic Heartgard Plus Chewables are now available.

Buy Generic Heartgard Plus Chewables

Generic Heartgard Plus Chewable - Small Dog under 25lb $21.99 for 6

Generic Heartgard Plus Chewables - Medium Dog 25-50lbs $23.99 for 6

Generic Heartgard Plus - Large Dog 50-100bs $26.99 for 6

This means dog owners looking to save a little money on their heartworm medicine do not need to forgo the advantage of giving a chewable treat. As we know many dogs make tablet time difficult but no more, with a tasty chewable Hearworm Pill.

Using Generic Heartgard Plus

Just like Heartgard Plus, these generic heartworm pills use ivermectin to destroy larval heartworms and pyrantel to control hookworms and roundworms. Your dog must be given these pills every 30 days to guarantee protection against heartworm disease. In some areas, seasonal use may be sufficient (depending on mosquito activity levels) so speak to your vet if considering using heartworm prevention during the summer months only.

Heartgard Plus and Generic Heartgard Plus Chewables are designed to be eaten slowly. If your dog tends to swallow things whole, break the tab apart and feed it in stages. Ensure the whole tab is ingested.

If you miss a treatment, administer it as soon as possible. If more than two months have passed since the last tablet was given consult your vet about the need for a new heartworm test.

If switching from another heartworm preventative, use the first Generic Heartgard Chewable 30 days afte the old medication was last used. If starting your dog on heartworm preventatives for the first time ensure your vet first carries out a heartworm test.

Heartgard Plus and Generic Heartgard Plus are considered safe enough to use on all breeds of dogs and puppies from six weeks of age.

Valuheart Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

2009-08-19T09:47:00.002+01:00

Buy Valuheart Pills for Dogs

(Generic Heartgard Heartworm Medicine)

Valuheart heartworm medicine for dogs are a form of generic heartworm pill. Using ivermectin to destroy larval parasites before they pose any threat to our dogs' health, these have been proven highly effective and safe. Valuheart pills are simply a generic version of Heartgard heartworm pills. The FDA requires generics and branded pet medicines be interchangeable. To this end you can see by checking the ingredients lists, that both Heartgard and Valuheart contain exactly the same volume of the active ingredient ivermectin.

By choosing a generic heartworm medicine such as Valuheart you can make significant savings on your dog's heartworm meds without compromising on safety or quality. The only difference between the two is the tablet itself. Whereas Heartgard dog heartworm medicine can be bought in the more expensive form of a chewable treat, Valuheart comes only in pill form. But, most dogs will take their medicine if you wrap it in some tasty morsel so is that difference really worth the price tag?

Discount Valuheart Heartworm Pills

By choosing Valuheart for your dog you are already saving money (usually around 40%) when compared to the branded Heartgard. The links at the side are for the cheapest Valuheart we could find. Being dispatched from Canada, this heartworm medicine is prescription free and sold at prices well below anything else available.

Using Valuheart Heartworm Medicine

Valuheart heartworm pills should be used every 30 days in order to protect your pet. If switching from another form of heartworm preventative make sure to use the first Valuheart pill 30 days after the last old medicine.

Year round use of such a product is recommended. But, in areas with only seasonal mosquito activity some vets agree that starting treatment within 30 days of the season's start, and continuing until one month after the last mosquito has gone, would be adequate.

If your pet has not been given heartworm preventatives before speak to your vet about the need for a heartworm test prior to beginning treatment. Valuheart pills can be used on puppies from six weeks. Sold in three different sized doses depending on the weight of your dog, Valuheart heartworm medicine offers safe heartworm prevention at a great price.

Are Generic Heartworm Pills any Good?

2009-08-09T10:08:00.001+01:00

Generic pets medicines generally, and generic heartworm pills in particular, offer great savings for pet owners. But, for many consumers there are still nagging doubts.

Are generic heartworm pills any good?
Will they work as well as the brands?
Why are they so cheap?

It is probably this last question which leads some pet owners to conclude they just cannot be so good. After all, you get what you pay for... don't you?

Well, not really. The pets medicine market is so highly regulated, that a generic heartworm medicine needs to be just as thoroughly tested and proven effective as the brand. In fact, for heartworm medicines (and nearly all pet meds) the over-riding factor, before a license for production and sale is granted, is that the generic must be identical in effectiveness as the brand. It must actually be interchangeable with the branded product.

The FDA website, though difficult at times to navigate, is full of useful information for pet owners. One of its Q&A sections provided the following good news for those hoping to make savings with generic products:

Are generic animal drugs as safe as the original drugs?
Under the provisions of the Generic Animal Drug and Patent Term Restoration Act (GADPTRA), the sponsor of a generic animal drug product must submit an Abbreviated New Animal Drug Application (ANADA) for review and approval before the product can be legally marketed. The generic product and its uses must be the same as those of an approved animal drug, with certain exceptions, and it must be demonstrated that the generic product is bioequivalent to the approved product.

The reason generic heartworm pills are cheaper (up to 50% cheaper in fact), is that the medicines used have already been developed and tested by another company first. Creating a new heartworm pill, when you know the exact dose of ivermectin needed to offer safe and guaranteed protection from heartworm disease, makes the whole process relatively straightforward and cheap to do. In addition, the brands are given a monopoly on production for years, to provide incentives for the development of new products. So once the generic version is available we are all familiar with the safe and effective use of such a product.

In the case of heartworm pills, this is illustrated with Heartgard heartworm medicines. This has been with us for decades, proving how effective ivermectin is in preventing a dangerous condition in dogs. The generic versions of Heartgard do not need to sell us the concept of ivermectin based monthly heartworm pills. Thus marketing budgets are far lower for the generics.

Generic heartworm pills are cheap then, because they can be (the manufacturers have lower start up, R&D and marketing costs) and because they have to be, to entice to give up our brand loyalty. If the price difference was negligible many consumers would stick to using the brand they have become familiar with.

Wherever a generic option is available it is certainly worth considering. The reality is generic heartworm pills have to be as good as the branded alternative. They have to be medicinally identical.

Can I Buy Tri Heart Plus No Prescription?

2009-08-09T09:42:00.000+01:00

Tri Heart Plus is a combined heartworm pill and intestinal de-wormer. This product destroys heartworms, roundworms and hookworms by using ivermectin and pyrantel.

Discount Heartworm Medicine

The lowest priced heartworm medicine products for dogs and cats are available from the links at the side.

Heartworm Medicine Without a Prescription

Overseas pet pharmacies are able to sell many heartworm medicines without needing a prescription from your vet. Many pet owners find it more simple and cheaper to buy pets medicines online avoiding prescription charges and the time involved in obtaining them.

A quirk of legislation requires even Canadian retailers to obtain a prescription before despatching Tri-heart heartworm pills. But the type and volume of both active ingredients are identical in Tri-heart and Heartguard Plus. In addition both are chewables which many dog owners find easier to use than tablets, so there is no real difference in using one or the other. Either way your dog will remain heartworm free and free of intestinal worms.

So if you're looking for Tri-Heart Plus without a prescription why not consider choosing instead Heartgard Plus for dogs? Or make even bigger savings by choosing prescription free generic Heartgard Plus heartworm pills.

Valueheart Dog Heartworm Medicine

2009-08-05T07:28:00.002+01:00

As more pet owners follow the advice of their vets and The American Heartworm Society, by choosing to use dog heartworm medicine regularly, more generic heartworm medicine becomes available. One such generic product is now so widely used, it has become a ‘brand’ in its own right. Valueheart heartworm medicine is a heartworm pill based on Heartgard heartworm pills.

Containing the same dose of the heartworm-fighting ingredient (ivermectin), Valueheart offers the same degree of protection against heartworm disease as the branded equivalent. The reason so many dog owners now choose Valueheart is that this protection comes at a fraction of the cost of Heartgard. Typically pet owners can save around 40% on every six-month pack of Valueheart when compared to Heartgard heartworm pills.

Valueheart Dog Heartworm Medicine

Valueheart heartworm preventative for dogs come in three different sized doses, depending on the weight of your pet. It is important you buy the right dose for each animal. The largest dogs may need to be given multiple tablets appropriate to their weight.

Each heartworm pill should be given every 30 days. This allows the active ingredient to destroy any larval parasites that have been picked up by an infected mosquito bite during the preceding month. If changing from another form of heartworm preventative, ensure the first Valueheart heartworm pill is used 30 days after the last old treatment. This will offer continuous heartworm prevention.

Valueheart heartworm pills are suitable for dogs from six weeks. Chronically ill or underweight dogs should be seen by a vet to discuss the suitability of using any heartworm medicine.

Discount Valueheart Dog Heartworm Medicine

The online pet medicine suppliers linked at the side are based in Canada. This means they can offer extremely cheap prices on a wide range of dog pet medicines, including the best priced Valueheart dog heartworm medicine you’re likely to find. In addition, they do not need a prescription to sell these heartworm pills, which may mean you save even more money and time.

Heartgard Dog Heartworm Medicine

2009-08-04T07:04:00.000+01:00

Heartgard dog heartworm medicine is the leading brand of heartworm prevention pills available to dog owners. There are three sorts of Heartgard heartworm medicines in the range:

Heartgard Heartworm Pills
Heartgard Chewables
Heartgard Plus

All three prevent heartworm in dogs by the same means. But the Heartgard Chewables and Heartgard Plus for dogs have some additional benefits.

Heartgard Heartworm Pills

These come in the form of an ordinary tablet. There is one active ingredient, Ivermectin, which is used as a heartworm preventative. Heartgard heartworm pills are used every 30 days. Once given, the ivermectin is absorbed into your pet’s bloodstream where it is able to destroy all larval heartworms contracted during the previous month. Used correctly, Heartgard Heartworm Pills for dogs will prevent heartworm disease.

Heartgard Chewables

These use exactly the same formula to prevent heartworm for dogs, as the more basic Heartgard heartworm pill or tablet. The benefit of using these instead is that they come in the form of a chewy, beefy treat which dogs usually enjoy and are happier to take, than a conventional tablet.

Heartgard Plus for Dogs

In addition to the same ivermectin based heartworm preventative, Heartgard Plus for dogs also contains pyrantel which controls roundworm and hookworm. Another benefit of choosing Heartgard Plus for dogs is that these again come in the form of a beefy chewable treat.

Heartgard Heartworm Pills

All three versions of Heartgard heartworm pills will prevent heartworm disease in dogs, if used correctly.

Heartgard heartworm pills come in different sized doses depending on the weight of your dog. Always choose the correct sized pack to ensure complete protection from the parasite.

Prior to beginning any heartworm preventatives it is advised your pet visit the vet for a heartworm test, if there is any risk of receiving a mosquito bite during the previous season.

These heartworm pills must be used every 30 days. If you forget a treatment, use it as soon as possible, and continue the using every 30 days from this new date. Do not double dose. Speak to your vet about the possible need for a new heartworm test if more than two months elapse between treatments.

Ivermectin based heartworm medicine, such as Heartgard heartworm pills, are suitable for all types of dogs, from six weeks. If dealing with a dog which is ill or extremely underweight speak to your vet first to decide whether treatment is suitable.

Discount Heartgard Dog Heartworm Medicine

Follow the links at the side for the best priced Heartgard heartworm pills currently available online. In addition to offering extremely good discounts, there is free shipping available. And, because the online pet pharmacy is based in Canada, they are able to sell Heartgard dog heartworm medicines without a prescription. This will save you even more money and some time too.

Generic Heartgard Dog Heartworm Medicine

If you want to make even more significant savings on your dog’s heartworm pills consider choosing a generic product. There are several generic heartworm pills that use the same ivermectin based formula as Heartgard and Heartgard Plus, to eliminate the threat of heartworm disease.

Whichever form of Heartgard dog heartworm medicine you choose, you can be sure that used correctly, they will protect your pet from the threat of heartworm disease.

Generic Heartworm Medicine

2009-08-01T08:46:00.004+01:00

Generic heartworm medicine is now widely available for dogs. Generic pets medicine offers the same quality and quantity of the active heartworm preventative ingredients, without the excessive price tag.

Although not all dog heartworm medicines are available in generic form, the most popular, ivermectin based heartworm pills are readily available. Once a pets medicine is proven, and any patents or licenses are expired, any drug company is free to use the same technology to produce their own version of the product.

Generic Heartworm Pills

As ivermectin based heartworm pills have been around for some time, and proven themselves a safe and extremely effective method of heartworm prevention, they have been copied by several companies. In fact, these generic heartworm pills are now almost as famous as the big name brands they imitate. Valueheart and Nuheart are the biggest generic heartworm medications, using the same formula as Heartgard Heartworm medicine.

The Same Heartworm Prevention

To put your mind at rest, when buying generic heartworm pills check the volume of the active ingredient included. You should see it is identical in the generic product as in the branded version. So you know you're getting the same health benefits from either product.

Low Price Heartworm Prevention

Choosing generic heartworm medicine is a great way to save money (usually between 30% & 50%), without putting your dog's health at risk. As most vets stock only limited ranges of pets medicine, they usually do not stock generic heartworm preventatives.

So if you're thinking about ways to save money, you will need to buy your pets medicine online. But, here this means you can save even more. Not only can you price check for the best discounts on heartworm meds and take your pick from several generic products, you can also buy a wide range of heartworm pills without a prescription.

Price check the links to our Canadian online pets medicine pharmacy at the side, for a great range of discounted pet med products including generic heartworm medicine.

Heartworm Pills to Prevent Heartworm for Dogs

2009-07-29T14:32:00.002+01:00

Canine heartworm disease is a growing problem. Originally isolated to warm, humid regions, mosquitoes are now travelling further afield, and taking heartworm disease with them. Although treating a dog already infected with the adult form of the heartworm parasite, is notoriously difficult, preventing heartworm for dogs is remarkably simple.

Three types of preventative heartworm medicine for dogs are available. Firstly, an injection can be given on an annual or six-monthly basis by your vet. Although widely used in Europe and Australia, health-scares have made this the least popular type of heartworm preventative in the United States.

A heartworm pill can be used to prevent the disease. The original heartworm pill needed to be given to a dog every day, but now several different monthly oral heartworm medicines are available.

Topical or spot on heartworm preventatives are relative new-comers in the world of preventative dog heartworm medicines but are growing in popularity. Particularly useful if your dog is one of the many who will eat just about everything except pet medications. Topical heartworm prevention often combines the control of other parasites too.

Heartworm Pills for Dogs

By far, the most common form of preventative heartworm medicine for dogs is the heartworm pill. There are several brands available, but it is worth remembering that only two medicines have been approved by the FDA for use in orally given dog heartworm medicine. These are ivermectin and Milbemycin oxime. Whatever brand you choose, you will be using one of these two parasiticides.

Both ivermectin and milbemycin oxime are able to destroy larval worms in your pet's bloodstream. Given orally, every 30 days they kill any juvenile heartworms picked up from an infected mosquito bite since the last treatment. Both are equally reliable and if used correctly will guarantee your dog does not get heartworm disease.

Ivermectin Heartworm Pills for Dogs

Ivermectin is used in the majority of heartworm pills for dogs. Heartgard and Heartgard Plus are made by Merial. Iverhart Plus and Iverhart Max are produced by Virbac and Tri-Heart Plus by Schering-Plough. They are available in both tablet and chewable form, and can incorporate the control of intestinal parasites too. Also available are non-branded or generic heartworm pills such as Generic Heartgard, Nuheart and Valueheart heartworm medicine. All will prevent heartworm for dogs, if used correctly, regardless of price.

Check the packaging and you can see the same dose of ivermectin is included in all these heartworm pills and chewables, so all have the same desired effect. Ivermectin is particularly good at dealing with heartworm larvae which have been in the system for longer than a month, and in fact, forms part of the treatment program for dogs with signs of the disease present with adult heartworms.

Ivermectin, in large doses can cause problems for collie type breeds. The quantities of the medicine present in approved heartworm pills is too small to be problematic. Nevertheless, many owners of such ivermectin sensitive breeds opt for an alternative form of dog heartworm medicine.

Ivermectin based heartworm pills are available without prescription from the Canadian pet pharmacy linked at the side.

Milbemycin Oxime Heartworm Pills

Both Interceptor and Sentinel, produced by Novartis use milbemycin oxime to destroy juvenile heartworms. These are broader spectrum de-worming treatments. Interceptor destroys intestinal worms along with juvenile heartworms, whilst Sentinel does this plus it destroys flea eggs.

Sadly, milbemycin oxime based heartworm pills are prescription only, even in Canada. But, an alternative product more widely used in Australia and Europe is Proheart. Using moxidectin (the same active ingredient as Advantage Multi) which works in the same way, and again is suitable for all breeds (including collies) and safe for use in stud dogs and breeding bitches. Proheart is available without a prescription by following the links at the side.

Best Heartworm Pills for Dogs

The choice of which heartworm pill to use with your dog is an extremely personal one. All types of heartworm medicine for dogs are equally good at preventing the disease occurring. Choosing one heartworm pill over another, will not improve your dogs chance of avoiding the disease. Whichever one you choose, if you use it correctly your dog will not be at risk of developing the disease. Many of the generic heartworm medicines for dogs are available only in traditional tablet form, whereas the branded products offer chewable, beefy treats as alternatives. Depending on how much you think a chewable is worth, might well determine how much you are willing to spend on a branded heartworm pill. Choosing generics can save you 30-50% on your dog heartworm medicine. Again, choosing to buy heartworm medication without a prescription, from a Canadian pet med pharmacy is a factor in determining the best choice of medicine for some pet owners, who enjoy the freedom to shop around without getting the vet involved.

How to Prevent Heartworms in Cats

2009-07-28T14:14:00.001+01:00

Although heartworm disease mostly affects dogs, it is a growing problem for felines too. With no drug treatment being currently available for cats who are infected with the disease, the thoughtful pet owner needs to consider preventing the problem in the first place. Luckily it is relatively simple to prevent heartworms in cats.

Two types of preventative heartworm medicines are available for our feline pets. Either a monthly heartworm pill, or a monthly topical heartworm medication are available for cats. A few different brands are available, which we will look at below.

Heartworm Pills for Cats

These are the most traditional way to prevent heartworms for cats. There are currently two brands of heartworm pills for cats approved by the FDA. Heartgard for Cats and Interceptor for Cats.

Heartgard and Heartgard Chewables are produced by Merial. Using ivermectin to destroy larval heartworms before they pose any threat to health. The active ingredient is absorbed into the bloodstream where it is fully able to destroy all larval heartworms which have been picked up by your pet from the bite of an infected mosquito during the previous month.

The other registered heartworm pill for cats is Interceptor, produced by Novartis. This is a prescription only medication even at Canadian pet pharmacies which may be why it is not the most popular method of preventing heartworms in cats. Using milbemycin oxime to destroy larval heartworms, roundworms and hookworms.

Topical Heartworm Medication for Cats

These are growing in popularity as a way of controlling many forms of parasite in both dogs and cats. Topical heartworm medicines are typically applied to the skin between the shoulder blades. This prevents the cat removing the oily liquid before it is fully absorbed. The active ingredient is then transferred to the circulatory system where it is able to fully destroy all larval heartworms which have been transferred to your pet via an infected mosquito bite during the last month.

The two brands of topical heartworm medicine available for felines are Advantage Multi and Revolution. Both are growing in popularity as they control other parasites whilst giving full protection from heartworm disease.

Revolution for cats is produced by Pfizer. This topical heartworm treatment uses selamectin to destroy larval heartworms, intestinal parasites, fleas, ticks and mites.

Advantage Multi for cats is produced by Bayer. This spot on heartworm medication uses the same flea killing ingredient as ordinary Advantage flea drops. The two active ingredients are moxidectin and imidacloprid. Combined, these two destroy heartworm larvae, fleas, roundworms, hookworms and ear mites.

Both Advantage Multi for Cats and Revolution for Cats are available from the Canadian online pet med pharmacy links at the side.

How Does Heartworm Medicine for Cats Work?

Heartworms in cats are easily prevented using a dedicated preventative heartworm medication. Regardless of whether you choose heartworm pills or topical heartworm medication, the process is basically the same. Juvenile heartworm larvae are destroyed before they have a chance to mature to adulthood, reproduce and cause health problems for your cat. These treatments do not stop your pet picking up the parasite, as it is simply too difficult to guarantee no mosquito will bite your pet. But a long as these treatments are used every 30 days they are able to completely destroy all larval heartworms which have infected your pet since the last treatment.

Can I Control Other Parasites with my Cat’s Heartworm Medicine?

The volume of the active ingredient used to destroy heartworms is tiny. So to control other parasites it is usual for another ingredient to be needed. Revolution heartworm drops are able to incorporate intestinal parasite and flea control with only one ingredient. Advantage Multi for cats uses two, to give complete heartworm, intestinal parasite and flea protection.

Which is the Best Heartworm Medicine for Cats?

All four approved preventative heartworm medicines are equally good at preventing heartworm disease. If used correctly all will completely destroy all larval worms before they can become any threat to health.

If you only want to concern yourself with heartworm prevention either of the heartworm pills are fine. But, with cats being notoriously difficult to give oral medications, many cat owners choose topical heartworm medications instead. Using Advantage Multi for Cats or Revolution means you can combine a de-wormer and flea control with your heartworm medicine regime. This combination of treatments makes these the best heartworm medicine for cat owners who like to make life simple by reducing the number of medications administered.

Can I Buy Heartworm Medicine for Cats without a Prescription?

Canadian online pet med outlets are able to supply a wide range of medicines without a prescription. Follow the links on the side to buy discount Advantage Multi and Revolution for Cats without needing to speak to your veterinarian about a prescription.

Notes on Heartworm Medicines for Cats

Remember dog and cat heartworm medicines are not the same and cannot be used interchangeably. Your pet should have an annual test for heartworm disease prior to giving any preventative heartworm medicines.

Speak to your vet about the risks of heartworms in cats in your region. You may find they suggest only using such preventatives for part of the year.

If you miss a dose of heartworm medicine, administer one as soon as possible. Then continue giving every 30 days from this new date. Do not 'double dose'. If more than two months elapse between treatments speak to your vet about a new heartworm test.

Remember treating heartworms in cats is tremendously difficult, but prevention is extremely easy.

Tri Heart Plus Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

2009-07-21T06:32:00.001+01:00

Tri-Heart Plus is an ivermectin based heartworm medicine for dogs made by Schering-Plough. As well as ivermectin to destroy larval heartworms before they pose a threat to your dog's health, Tri-Heart Plus heartworm medicine for dogs also contains pyrantel to destroy other internal parasites including roundworms and hookworms.

Available in a monthly tasty chewable treat these heartworm pills contain the same ingredients and do the same job as Heartgard Plus heartworm medicine.

Make Savings on Heartworm Pills for Dogs
Our Canadian sponsors supply Tri Heart Plus heartworm pills at extremely low prices. But whereas they can offer Heartgard Plus without a prescription, one is needed for Tri-Heart heartworm medicine.

If you are looking for savings and prescription free heartworm medicine for your dog try generic Heartgard Plus which offers the same parasite control as Triheart Plus for dogs. Choosing generic heartworm medicines can lead to savings of up to 50% when compared to the branded products. If you check the packet you'll see the generics contain the same volume of active ingredients, so always offer the same safe and effective method of heartworm prevention.

Cheap Heartworm Pills for Dogs

The links below (and at the side) will take you to a Canadian online pet pharmacy with the best prices for heartworm preventatives and other pet medicines.

Most vets agree intestinal worms only need to be dealt with every three months. So you may feel the added de-wormer in Triheart Plus is not worth the extra expense and need for a veterinary prescription. If so you could buy a generic Heartgard heartworm medicine for a fraction of the price and without the need for a prescription.

Speak to your vet about their thoughts on the need for an all in one wormer and heartworm medicine. Even if you're not buying your pets medicine from them, they are of course the best source of information and you'll still need an annual heartworm test and check-up from them anyway.

Nuheart Generic Heartworm Meds Nuheart Without Prescription

2009-07-18T08:45:00.004+01:00

Generic heartworm medicine is now widely available. Sadly most veterinary offices do not stock generics. But they are easy to source via online pet med outlets. People are often a little fearful about choosing generic heartworm meds. But the end result - a happy healthy dog - is just the same, whether you choose branded or generic heartworm medications. We have non prescription Nuheart pills available to order so please take advantage of this great offer.

Nuheart Dog Heartworm Medicine

Nuheart heartworm medicine for dogs are designed, with ease of use in mind. The tablets are small, which always makes it easier for your dog to accept its medication. Rather than being simply a chalky tablet, they are meat flavoured, so most dogs will happily accept their heartworm medicine. If your dog is still determined to reject the tablet, Nuheart pills can be dissolved in a little water and then mixed with their normal food.

Nuheart heartworm pills are an Australian medicine approved by the Australian Veterinary Medicines Authority. Using exactly the same safe and effective dose of ivermectin to ensure dogs remain heartworm free.

Discount Nuheart Heartworm Meds

Have a look at the links at the side or above for the cheapest source of Nuheart heartworm pills on-line. Plus, to make your purchase even more simple, as the online pet pharmacy with the best prices on dog heartworm medicine, is based in Canada, much of their products, including Nuheart, may be sold without the need for a prescription. So buy Nuheart without prescription.

Generic Dog Heartworm Pills

We need to get out of the habit of being distrustful of non branded items. We know that a generic ibuprofen tablet will sort out our headache just as quickly as the branded Nurofen capsule. If the active ingredients are the same in a medicine, the results will be identical too.

Generic heartworm meds are just the same principle. Have a look at the ingredients used in Heartgard for dogs and you will find exactly the same amount of ivermectin (the active ingredient which destroys the heartworm larvae) in Nuheart, Valuheart, Iverheart or any other generic form of Heartgard.

Generic heartworm medications are not the ones recommended by your vet because he does not stock them. Your vet will stock branded products because those brands make, market and sell other forms of pet medication too. The generics do not have the huge marketing budget of the brands. But if your vet recommends a particular brand of heartworm medicine it is definitely worth looking into cheaper, generic alternatives of it.

Heartgard are by far the most popular form of heartworm pills. The ivermectin doses these products use kill 100% of heartworm larvae but they do this relatively slowly. This makes them safe for all types of dogs including nursing dogs, pregnant dogs and puppies from six weeks of age. Adverse reactions to ivermectin are extremely rare in the doses contained in heartworm pills. Tremors, dilated pupils and disorientation are seen with dogs overdosed on ivermectin products. Always ensure you give your pet the correct sized dose for their weight.

By choosing Nuheart generic heartworm meds you can save 50% when compared to the price of branded Heartgard heartworm medicine for dogs. So the packaging may not be so colourful. But with the same amount of ivermectin protecting your pet from heartworm disease, does it matter?

Heartworms in Cats

2009-07-17T09:36:00.000+01:00

Although a good proportion of dog owners now routinely administer heartworm medicine for dogs to ensure their pets never get heartworm disease, cat owners are generally rather less concerned with the risk this parasite brings. Heartworms in cats were thought to be extremely rare, and some of the treatments used to prevent the condition in dogs can be toxic to our feline friends. So heartworm medicine for cats is far behind that for dogs, in terms of products available and use.

Are Cats at Risk of Heartworms?

This is a topic of much debate. Some vets say yes, others no. The heartworm parasite is ideally suited to living in a canine host, so dogs which are infected with larval heartworms are pretty much guaranteed to develop the disease of heartworm unless treated.

Cats, on the other hand do not provide the parasite with the ideal living conditions it requires. But, although larval heartworms often die before causing a problem for their feline host, they do not always do so. Any cat infected with larval heartworms has a high chance of getting heartworm disease in the future.

Wherever dogs get heartworms, cats can become infected too. Mosquitoes pick up juvenile heartworms from infected dogs and then pass the developed larvae onto other animals including cats.

As cats are outside much of the time they are perhaps more likely to become infected with larval worms from a mosquito bite than dogs are. But, the worms are less likely to develop into adults in a feline host. Whereas 100% of unmedicated dogs exposed to heartworm larvae will go on to get heartworm disease, only 61% to 90% of cats will do the same.

Are Heartworms in Cats Serious?

The difference is that cases of heartworms in cats tend to show symptoms confusing diagnosis with other conditions. It is now thought that many cases of previously diagnosed feline asthma and feline bronchitis were in fact misdiagnosed heartworm disease. This is partly due to the fact that heartworm parsites in cats tend to congregate in the lungs rather than primarily the heart as in dogs. This means respiratory problems are the usual symptom of heartworms in cats.

Cats with heartworms will sometimes fight off the parasites themselves, something dogs seem never able to do. And, far fewer larval worms manage to survive in the cats system long enough to reach adulthood. But, those that do can cause more harm in a cat than such small numbers ever would in a dog.

Adult heartworms in cats tend to be found in small numbers, but literally one adult heartworm can easily kill your cat suddenly. The worry is that not a lot can be done to help a cat with heartworms and the prognosis for such cats simply isn't known. Some survive, ridding themselves of the parasite within a few years, others do not and develop organ failure due to the disease. And, while a cat may fight of the parasitic infection, its health is at risk during that time and afterwards due to the damage done to lungs and other organs.

Should I Give My Cat Heartworm Medicine?

If you would give your dog heartworm medicine, you should probably be giving your cat the same care. The risk of your cat developing the problem is less than your dog doing so but that risk is far from negligible.

Figures are difficult to come by, but it is thought that feline cases of the disease are between 5 and 40% the level associated with dogs. So your cat is definitely at less risk of getting the disease but the only way to be sure is to give them heartworm medicine.

Obviously the bigger the risk of the disease in dogs in your locality, the bigger the risk to cats too. Areas with high year round mosquito populations are very dangerous, and cats living in such areas really should be given heartworm medicine as part of their routine care. If you live somewhere with a less significant mosquito population you may feel the risk is low enough to avoid routine year round treatment. Speak to your vet about the level of the disease in your area, but remember the American Heartworm Society believe we should all be treating our pets with heartworm preventatives year round.

Heartworms in Cats are difficult to diagnose or treat but simple to prevent, with Advantage Multi and Revolution for cats offering combined flea and heartworm prevention as spot on treatments, or Interceptor and Heartgard oral heartworm pills.

Generic Heartworm Medicine for Cats

2009-07-16T14:09:00.000+01:00

We've had a look at generic heartworm medicine for dogs, but what about cats? Well, sadly at the moment there just is not the same choice of heartworm medication for cats available. The big brands produce fewer cat heartworm medicines and the generic companies produce virtually none. If you can track some down, good luck to you. Personally I have found no generic heartworm medicine for cats available from reputable online pet meds outlets.

Until cat owners start taking heartworm disease as seriously as dog owners do, the lack of choice in how to prevent heartworm in cats is likely to persist. It is understandable, dogs are more likely to contract the disease than cats, so far fewer cats are given preventatives than dog. But with the American Heartworm Society advising us all to treat both dogs and cats with heartworm preventatives. And, the number of cases of the disease in both cats and dogs increasing and growing more widespread, generic heartworm mediciation for cats must appear soon.

Until the demand increases there is no widely available generic heartworm medicine for cats so we'll need to continue using the brands, Heartgard Plus, Advantage Multi and Revolution for cats. Using products such as Advantage Multi and Revolution for cats at least allows us to save a little time and money by incorporating flea control with our cats heartworm prevention.

Topical Heartworm Medicine

2009-07-16T13:47:00.000+01:00

Topical heartworm medicine is used very similarly to spot on flea treatments. Many pet owners find topical heartworm medication much easier to administer. This is especially true for dogs which refuse to eat tablets and are allergic to beef, making ordinary heartworm pills a difficult option.

Using Topical Heartworm Medicine

Topical heartworm medication is now available for both dogs and cats. The treatment comes in a small plastic ampule, which you cut open. Then simply part your pet's fur between the shoulder blades and pour the liquid directly onto the skin. If you feel there is too much liquid simply wait for some to soak in before using the rest. It is important that the heartworm meds make contact with skin rather than just fur, as they need to be absorbed into the animal's bloodstream to become effective.

Using the product between the shoulder blades means your pet shouldn't be able to rub or lick the heartworm medication off. But, there are always exceptions (usually cats) who will try to clean off the liquid once applied. Keep an eye on them and try to stop them doing so until the patch is dry and the product absorbed. Do not panic if a little of the meds are licked, the manufacturer's understand some pets will consume a little, and though not ideal, there are unlikely to be any adverse reactions. Keep animals seperate for half an hour after applying the treatment and do not allow children near. This just gives the active ingredients a chance to soak in and dry without being removed by grooming or petting the animal.

Topical heartworm medicines must be used every month. Before the first treatment your vet should carry out a blood test to ensure your pet is not already infected with the parasite. Once given the all clear, your dog or cat must be given their heartworm medication every thirty days. The active ingredients will then destroy any larval heartworms which have infected the bloodstream during the previous month.

If you forget to administer your pet's heartworm meds, do so as soon as you remember. Do not double dose, simply give the next treatment 30 days from the late one. There is a slight risk your pet will be at risk of the disease, depending on the length of time the treatment was delayed. Your vet will find out when you go for your next annual heartworm check.

Topical Heartworm Medicine and Parasite Control

Topical heartworm medications are now available which incorporate the control of other parasites too.

Revolution heartworm medicine for dogs and cats incorporates flea control too, destroying both adult fleas and flea eggs whilst offering prevention of heartworm medicine.

Advantage Multi, which is also known as Advocate, prevents heartworms, kills adult fleas and flea larvae, sarcoptic mange and lice whilst also destroying intestinal roundworm and hookworms. In addition Advantage multi destroys whipworm in dogs and ear mites in cats. This makes it a good topical heartworm medicine to use if you would like the convenience of not having to use additional worming tablets or flea control products.

Generic Heartgard Plus for Dogs

2009-07-16T13:44:00.000+01:00

Heartgard Plus heartworm medicine for dogs is an improved version of the leading Heartgard heartworm medication. Generic Heartgard Plus for dogs is now also available, so you can enjoy the benefits of this new heartworm preventative but without paying too highly for the privilege.

Heartgard Plus uses the same active ingredient (ivermectin) to destroy heartworm larvae in exactly the same way as their original heartworm pills. The manufacturers (Merial) have added another active ingredient (pyrantel) to destroy intestinal parasites; roundworms and hookworms too. This heartworm medication is mild enough to use on nursing and pregant bitches and can be used on puppies from 6 weeks of age (weighing 2lb or more).

Now dog owners can enjoy the convenience of using one monthly de-wormer to control all three types of parasites by using Heartgard Plus for dogs. But, if the price of Heartgard Plus puts you off, why not opt for Generic Heartgard Plus instead? By opting for the non-branded version of these heartworm pills you can save around 30%.

The generic version of this heartworm medication uses the same amount of both active ingredients. So, for less money hookworms, roundworms and heartworms are controlled effectively. The only difference in choosing the generic heartworm medicine, is that the heartworm pills are not 'chewable treats', but are just ordinary looking tablets. Most dogs are not that observant, so by breaking up Generic Heartgard Plus for dogs, into a tasty meal they should be happy enough to take their monthly preventative. With the money saved you can always buy your dog an extra tasty treat instead and still have some cash left over.

The Best Heartworm Medicine

2009-07-07T11:01:00.001+01:00

Having learnt about heartworm disease in dogs and cats, we obviously want to use an effective preventative heartworm medicine. But which one? How do you find the best heartworm medicine for your pet?

Well firstly, all the products labelled as heartworm medicine have to work. They are all controlled medicines and are all effective, when administered properly. So if all you want to do is ensure your dog does not contract heartworm you can use any form of preventative heartworm medication.

But, this is assuming that firstly you have your dog checked and know that it definitely does not already carry heartworms. Dogs which do have any degree of heartworm adults or larvae must be treated for the disease under veterinary supervision. Secondly, all heartworm medications work effectively IF they are administered at the recommended interval.

As long as you know your dog is heartworm free AND that you will definitely administer heartworm medicine every 30 days (from monthly products) or every day (for daily heartworm tablets) you can choose any product to ensure your pet remains heartworm free. This is good news for your dog but does make finding the best heartworm medication less obvious.

How to Choose the Best Heartworm Medicine

Choosing the best heartworm medication is then, a matter of personal preference.

Firstly you need to decide whether you prefer to use oral heartworm pills or spot on heartworm medicine. Heartworm pills come in flavoured chewable formulations now. So as long as your dog is not allergic to beef even the fussiest tablet taker can be given oral heartworm medicines. But if you find oral medicines difficult there are spot on treatments available too. Many pet owners find these much easier to administer. But, if your pet has particularly sensitive skin you could find minor allergic reactions to the non-active constituents in topical heartworm medications a problem.
Secondly, do you want to control any other parasites? Whilst the cheapest heartworm medicines all fight heartworm effectively, you can pay a little more and have the convenience of controlling other common parasites at the same time. To control hookworms and roundworms whilst preventing heartworms, dogs can be given Heartgard Plus. Interceptor Flavor Tabs will control heartworm disease, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm. Spot on heartworm meds can incorporate flea control too. Revolution controls fleas and prevents heartworm while Advantage Multi offers almost total parasite control by destroying fleas, heartworms, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm.

Once you have answered the two questions above you will have narrowed down your search to a few brands.

If you think you are likely to ever forget to give your dog heartworm medicine at the right time, you should choose ivermectin based heartworm pills such as Heartgard. This is the most effective drug at destroying larval heartworms which have been in the animals system for longer than a month. Of course using the medication at the correct time interval is to be preferred.
Likewise, if there is any chance that your pet has been exposed to heartworm in the past this is the drug of choice. The alternatives kill parasites much more quickly which can be a quite a shock to the system if the animal is host to lots of parasites. Though of course a test for the disease would be the preferred option.
If your dog is a collie breed you may have concerns regarding ivemectin based products. It is true that collie breeds sometimes have a genetic mutation which means high doses of ivermectin can be poisonous. In truth, the FDA and American Heartworm Society have found the dose of ivermectin in preventative heartworm medications so low that collies are not at risk if they are used. But it is understandable that many owners of collies feel more comfortable using an alternative such as Program which uses Moxidectin to destroy parasites.

Now you should have a clear idea of which brand you prefer. But the choices don't stop yet, as you could choose to use a generic heartworm medicine equivalent to the brand you've researched. This is definitely the option to choose if you want to keep your dogs heartworm medicine bills to a complete minimum.

Most importantly know that you can't really make a wrong decision. All available heartworm medicines do what you need - they destroy larval worms before they mature and cause any sign of disease. The choices are all about ease of use, price, and whether to incorporate other parasite treatments.

All available heartworm medicine is safe, if administered correctly. The only type which has experienced any sort of suspected risk is the heartworm injection. But even this risk is very uncertain. Although the product was temporarily withdrawn from use in the US, it is one of the most widely used forms of heartworm prevention in Europe and Australia. In those regions there have been no reported problems at all. If you do choose an injection you will need to have it administered every year or six months, by your vet.

Don't forget your vet is a great source of advice, even if not always the best source of discounts. Heartworm medicine should be discussed with your vet whilst they are carrying out your dogs annual heartworm test. Armed with the experienced advice they can give on brands, you can then hunt down the best prices or even opt for generic alternatives, to find the best heartworm medicine for you and your pets.

Discount Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

2009-07-05T09:26:00.000+01:00

Dog owners are now able to find great savings on many pets medicines. Discount heartworm medicine is readily available, but finding a cheaper price than your vet is not the only way to save money. There are three ways to save on your dogs heartworm medicine without putting your pet at risk.

The America Heartworm Society recommend that all dogs in the US be given preventative heartworm medicine all year. Many of us only actually give our pets medicines when mosquitoes are most active in the warmer months. This is a way to save money but does increase the chances of your pet contracting the disease. Of course your vet can advise you on the threat level of the disease in your area and you may feel this is an acceptable risk. However the following three pointers provide a real way to save on heartworm medicine for dogs no matter how long you choose to treat them.

1. Choosing Generic Heartworm Medicine

Opting for a non-branded form of heartworm medicine for your dog will save you money. Vets rarely stock generics so you will need to look online for such products. The active ingredients in generic heartworm meds are identical to the branded product. You can always double check this yourself as all pets medicines must clearly state the volume of active ingredient included in their formulation. Once you have decided on which type of heartworm medicine you prefer, just choose a generic version of the product.

All the home administered heartworm meds (tablet, chewable and topical treatments) have been copied and are now available in both branded and generic versions. The most popular brands have the most generic alternatives available. For example finding generic Heartgard for dogs is extremely easy because so many dog owners use branded Heartgard. Generics are not 'fakes'. They are produced to the same strict safety and quality regulations by drugs manufacturers just like the brands. Once the brand's monopoly on newly developed ingredients is over other drugs companies can use these to make their own version of any medicine. This is just like buying generic or store's own ibruprofen rather than choosing the more expensive branded Nurofen. The packet is different and the tablet may be a different shape but the active ingredient is the same.

2. Discount Heartworm Medicine Online

The average vet just does not sell enough heartworm medicine to get the best prices for you. Plus, they will not stock the widest range of different types of heartworm medicine for dogs or cats. So to find discounted heartworm meds you will need to look a little further afield. There are now many online pets medicine outlets and online pharmacies where you can find better deals. These stores sell such huge quantities they are able to stock a wider range of heartworm meds and all at lower prices than conventional stores.

Buying your dogs heartworm meds online is a great way to save money. But, always price check. The largest online pet med outlets receive such vast quantities of search engine traffic they do not need to offer the absolute cheapest deal to still have a lot of sales. Even if the prices quoted are cheaper than your vet, there may be better deals available. If you're going to the trouble to find cheap heartworm medicine, you want the absolute best deal available not just some mediocre saving. Combining an online purchase with the other two pointers detailed should save you even more money.

3. Buy Heartworm Medicine Without a Prescription

If you choose to buy heartworm medicine without a prescription you avoid the charges your vet may make for writing one out for you. Even the traditional online stores will need your vet to complete a prescription and then you will need to send or email it to them, before your purchase can be dispatched.

Using an online pets medicine outlet where no prescription is required will save you much more time and effort. Most of the leading brands and generic versions of dog heartworm meds are available, but you will not be required to send a prescription in. This saves a lot of your time which is just as important as your money.

Discount Heartworm Medicine

Our choice for the best deal on discount heartworm medicine offer prices far below what your local store could offer. They also offer a wider range of generic heartworm meds and branded products. Finally, the 'icing on the cake', they will supply heartworm medicine without a prescription. To view their wide range of discount heartworm medication have a look at the product links on the right.

Discount Heartgard for Dogs

2009-07-02T08:06:00.001+01:00

Heartgard and Heartgard Plus are the leading brands of heartworm medicine for dogs. Widely stocked by local veterinary offices because they are a proven, safe way to prevent heartworm for dogs and cats. Vets trust Heartgard because its primary ingredient Ivermectin, is what they use to treat cases of the disease in dogs. They are familiar with its use and safety and so it is often recommended. But, the prices for Heartgard for Dogs, at your veterinary office are unlikely to be the best you can find. Looking for discount Heartgard for dogs can produce some good results but you need to factor in exactly what kind of heartworm pill you're getting and how much work you need to put in to make the purchase.

Types of Heartgard Heartworm Medicine

Heartgard heartworm pills are produced by Merial. They use Ivermectin to destroy all heartworm larvae contracted by your pet during the 30 days prior to administration. There are different sized doses available for different sized dogs and cats.

Because Heartgard are the original Ivemectin based Heartworm Pills they have been widely copied. This is good news for consumers as it means there are several Generic Discount Heartgard heartworm tablets available. Not to be outdone by the competition, Merial themselves have introduced several different versions of Heartgard too. Most online pets medicine retailers do not stock the entire range of branded and generic Heartgard pills. This can make tracking down discount Heartgard for dogs quite difficult as price comparisons can become a little complicated.

The Original Heartgard Pills

Heartgard tablets are simple small pills containing Ivermectin. Given each month they destroy any heartworm larvae contracted by your pet. They are the cheapest form of branded Heartgard heartworm medicine because they come in basic unflavoured tablet form. For dogs with beef allergies these are the ones to chose.

Heartgard Chewables

These provide exactly the same protection against heartworm for dogs. Containing the same volume of Ivermectin as the Heartgard Tablets (68mcg per 25lb dog weight). The difference is these come in the form of a beefy chewable treat rather than a heartworm pill.

Many dog owners find it easier to give their pet heartworm medication in this form as some dogs can be very awkward about accepting tablets. The chewables contain beef so are unsuitable for dogs with beef allergies. But most importantly, if you're looking for discount Heartgard for dogs, these are always more expensive. So, if you teach your pet to accept medicines in tablet form, or take the time to crush the tablets and mix into their food, you can save some money wherever you buy your heartworm medicine.

Heartgard Plus

Heartgard Plus, again are beef flavoured chewables, so dogs will take their heartworm medication easily. In addition to Ivermectin, these also contain Pyrantel Pamoate which controls roundworms and hookworms. Of course, you pay a little more to use this broader spectrum heartworm medicine but it reduces the need for multiple regular medications. Depending on what dewormer you choose for intestinal worms, Heartgard Plus may work out cheaper over all. More usually, it is the convenience of one medication rather than price, which attracts dog owners to this form of heartworm medicine.

Discount Heartgard for Dogs

Your vetinary office is unlikely to be able to offer discounted Heargard because they sell such small volumes of each product. Online pet medicine retailers however are a different matter. There are some great deals to be had. But, consider whether you're looking for more than just the cheapest Heartgard. Do you want the most simple purchase too? You can buy discount Heargard for dogs here. But, pay a fraction more and you can buy heartgard without a prescription. This cuts out the time, money and stress involved in any visit to the vets, so though the purchase price is a little more, buying your heartworm medicine without a prescription may save you overall.

Save More with Generic Heartgard Heartworm Medicine

Because Heartgard is such a popular make of heartworm prevention there are of course, various generic versions of the medicine available. Buying generic heartworm medicine in no way affects the quality or effectiveness of the medication. You simply buy the same active ingredients in slightly different packaging. Look for Ivermectin heartworm pills and you have found yourself an alternative or generic version of Heartgard.

Cheapest Heartgard for Dogs

The cheapest way to give your dog Heartgard heartworm medicine, is to use a generic version of Heartgard and buy this heartworm medicine without a prescription. That way you save on the product itself and avoid the inconvenience of obtaining a prescription from your vet.

Online retailers can usually offer a much wider selection of products at reduced prices so are a great place to look for Discount Heartgard for Dogs. But, the top retailers often do not offer the very best prices so it pays to hunt around a little. Our sponsors offer a wide range of discount heartworm medicines available without a prescription. They stock the big brands such as Heartgard for Dogs but offer generic versions too, such as NuHeart and ValueHeart Ivermectin heartworm pills.

Generic Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

2009-07-01T16:36:00.001+01:00

It is definitely tough trying to save money and ensure we look after our pets properly. If we live in an area where heartworm disease occurs the responsible thing, of course, is to use a regular preventative heartworm medication. One way to cut the pets medicine bills is to opt for a Generic Heartworm Medicine for Dogs.

What is Generic Heartworm Medicine?

Simply put generic heartworm medication is simply medicine without the branding. The packaging is different. For heartworm pills, the actual tablets may be a different size, shape or flavour. Branded products are developed and manufactured by large drug companies. Generics use the proven medicines already developed by the brands.

Generic heartworm medicine for dogs is usually significantly better value for money than the branded version. This is because you're not paying for all the research, development or marketing of the original.

Is Generic Heartworm Medicine as Good as Branded?

Generic heartworm medications are exactly the same, medicinally, as branded products. You can check the label and see the volume of active ingredients will be identical for both generic and big name brands. So you get the same protection against the disease for your dog.

Importantly drug companies all must adhere to the same stringent quality and safety rules regardless of whether they're producing a big named brand or a generic pet medicine. So the generic product will be of exactly the same high quality and safety.

Generic heartworm medicine for dogs is definitely as good as the branded version, in fact its better because its cheaper.

Why Don't More People Opt for Generic Pet Medicines Then?

Simply because we buy into the brand name and packaging. We feel comfortable with brands, we're used to them and they are familiar. People say they use Heartgard whether they use true Heartgard Heartworm Pills or Generic Heartgard such as NuHeart or ValueHeart. We hear the name so often we think Heartgard are THE Ivermectin based heartworm pills available.

For some, there is also a matter of loyalty. We pay a little more for our branded heartworm medicine for dogs. The brand may then research more and develop improved medicines for us to use in the future. Of course these will then be introduced by the manufacturers of generic pet medicines too.

Of course there is a little 'snob' value in branded products too. We all prefer it when people see the branded items on our kitchen shelves rather than the 'store's own' version. It's the same too with medicines of all types. But, knowing that you are giving your dog complete heartworm protection from a differently coloured packet means you are still caring for your pet. It is just that you manage to save a little too.

Where Can I Buy Generic Heartworm Medicine?

Generic heartworm medicine for dogs is available from most of the larger online pets medicines retailers. Your vet probably won't stock it because they sell such small volumes so they can only ever offer a limited range of products. Of course I would suggest you try out our sponsors as the prices are good and heartworm medicines are available without a prescription, which will save you time and may save you more money too.

Choosing Generic Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

Of course choosing a pet medicine is difficult. Each have their own benefits and drawbacks. I would suggest researching branded methods of preventing heartworm for dogs online and/or with the advice of your vet. Then simply look for the generic alternative. All the leading methods of heartworm prevention have one or more generic alternatives. Check the active ingredients are identical to put your mind at rest and then just choose the cheapest generic heartworm medicine for dogs.

Heartworm Medicine Do's and Don'ts - Part Two

2009-06-21T11:53:00.002+01:00

Here at Heartworms, Dogs and Cats we are keen to get pet owners to protect their animals from the threat of heartworm disease. With treatment of infected animals being dangerous, costly and difficult we believe, just as The Heartworm Society does, that all pet's at risk should be given preventative heartworm medicines.

However, the responsibility of protecting your canine and feline friends from the disease doesn't end when you buy heartworm medicine. These are important treatments which need a little understanding, care and attention to ensure you get what you pay for: i.e. fully protected pets.

Nothing about your pets med is difficult to do, but you do need to understand a little about how they work so you administer them correctly. So, following on from our first heartworm medicine rule here is...

Heartworm Medicine - Rule #2 - Keep Up To Date

Heartworm medicines come in daily and monthly forms for you to adminster. Alternatively in some areas there are six-monthly or yearly injections available working in exactly the same way, but providing a longer period of protection. As the heartworm injections must be given by your vet we will assume they will remind you when treatment is due, but put it in your calendar anyway just in case.

Our main concern here are daily and monthly heartworm meds as these are much more common choices used to protect our cats and dogs. The both work in the same way. In effect they provide protection backwards. Rather than preventing your pets becoming infected with larval worms, they eliminate any transmitted previously.

As you can guess, the daily heartworm pills are only able to destroy larvae transmitted over the previous 24 hours. Once the only option for heartworm prevention most pet owners prefer the newer, more long-lasting options. Monthly heartworm medicines (pills and topicals) are all able to destroy larval worms which have been in the animal's system for the previous 30 days.

If you miss a treatment you should use one immediately but it will not be guaranteed to be 100% effective. Once the guaranteed time-span is past each medication shows deminishing returns, able to destroy many but possibly not all larvae. The ivermectin based products have the longest period of success. In tests, animals not receiving meds for 4 months showed a larger proportion of larvae destroyed with ivermectin. But it still isn't 100% effective.

If you fail to administer heartworm meds at the specified time span you reduce their effectiveness and increase the chance of some larvae progressing to adults and causing fully blown heartworm disease. If there is any delay in giving the meds, it is worth switching to an ivermectin based product to increase the chances of success.

If switching from a daily heartworm med to a monthly one ensure the first monthly dose is given within 30 days of the last daily dose to ensure 100% protection.

It can be so easy to lose track of time and delay doses but that just means you are reducing their power. Always set up a reminder so you cannot delay giving your pets their heartworm medicine. Otherwise you just dilute all your good intentions!

Heartworm Medicine Do's and Don'ts - Part One

2009-06-19T11:12:00.002+01:00

Heartworm Medicine is vital to the health and well-being of dogs and cats in many areas. But, it is important that you use whichever type of heartworm med as intended. To ensure your pets are completely protected from possible disease you have to know a little about the products, how they work and how you ensure they keep working.

There really is nothing to worry about. All the available heartworm medications are strictly monitored and regulated. And, they are all simple to administer BUT you must take responsibility for administering them properly otherwise you may be wasting your time and money while putting your pet's health at risk.

Heartworm Medicine - Rule #1 - Get Tested

The first rule of using ANY heartworm med is to ensure your dog or cat is not already suffering from heartworm disease.

The natural course of a heartworm infection is that the disease does not actually start till six or seven months after infection anyway. And, many pets show no symptoms until the disease is in its later stages. Both these factors mean it is not uncommon for pet owners to have no idea there is any problem at all. There is no way for you to determine if your dog or cat is infected. Only a vet will be able to tell.

The reason it is important for both dogs and cats to be tested for infection BEFORE starting any preventative heartworm medicine is due to the way the meds work. Rather than stopping infection, heartworm meds destroy any larval stage worms which have infected your pet during the last 30 days. This means, that the active ingredients are able to kill juvenile heartworms. The volume of larvae which could infect your pet in 30 days is small so there is no risk to animal health processing these dead parasites.

However, an animal with advanced stages of the actual disease may have many adult and juvenile worms in their system. If such an animal is given heartworm medicine they may have trouble processing the volume of dead parasites and the proteins they release. In extreme cases toxic shock could occur. Animals already suffering from the disease must be monitored by a vet during treatment to check they are able to absorb the parasites safely.

Interceptor Heartworm Meds

2009-06-15T08:24:00.001+01:00

Interceptor Heartworm Meds. View our full range of Heartworm Medicine. Most heartworm medicine available without a prescription.

There are many preventative heartworm medications available for both dogs and cats. One of the leading brands is Interceptor. They produce 'Flavor Tabs' which the makers advise are loved by 95% of dogs! They are given as a meaty beef flavoured treat to dogs on a monthly basis to prevent heartworm disease, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm.

Interceptor Heartworm Pills are a complete de-worming monthly treatment for dogs from 4 weeks of age (2lb and over). As puppies are highly at risk of complications from intestinal parasites this makes a very satisfactory way of treating them and ensuring a healthy heartworm free future too.

This heartworm med uses Milbemyclin Oxine to destroy any worms which have presented themselves during the 30 days prior to treatment. This means Interceptor should be first used within 30 days of the dogs first exposure to mosquitoes. Prior to commencing preventative treatment the dog should be given a blood test by your vet to confirm he or she is not already suffering from the disease.

Although it is always advisable to check with your vet before giving any pet meds to pregnant or nursing bitches, this product is a preferred method of keeping such animals safe from Heartworm. Both pregnant and nursing bitches have been given dosages up to 25 times that recommended with no long-term problems for either bitch or puppies.

Interceptor Heartworm Pills have been used worldwide for over 14 years. Produced by Novartis they are governed by the FDA. These heartworm meds are suitable for dogs of all sizes. Coming in four different doses ranging from dogs of 2lb to 100lb. Dogs larger than this will need a combination of tabs equivalent to their weight.

Oral Heartworm Medicine - Ivermectin

2009-06-06T12:07:00.005+01:00

Oral heartworm medicine is available for both dogs and cats and is the most traditional way of preventing heartworm for dogs and cats. There are two active ingredients used in the different brands of heartworm pills; Ivermectin and Milbemyclin Oxine.

Ivermectin

This ingredient is also used during the initial stages of treatment for pets already infected with heartworm, so has a long history of study and use by vets worldwide. Ivermictin is active against the nerve receptors in insects. It causes the paralysis and subsequent death of immature heartworms in the bloodstream. Alongside this Ivermectin is also active against female adult heartworm by preventing them from breeding. Given each month, ivermectin will eliminate any new larval heartworms that have infected your pet since the last dose.

Ivermectin is the active ingredient best able to also deal with microfilariae (larval heartworm) as they develop. It is fully able to destroy all heartworm larvae up to two months of age and will destroy a large percentage which have reached four months of age. So for animals which have had a gap in their usual heartworm medicine this should be the drug of choice. It is the only product to have a significant impact if given at intervals of two to four months.

This potency should not be used as an excuse to use the product less often than the every month recommended. As the time between treatments is extended the products effectiveness is still reduced. For full heartworm protection use heartworm pills monthly.

It is recommended that all heartworm medicines be preceded by a veterinary heartworm test however Ivermectin based products are the least likely to cause your pet problems if accidentally administered to a heartworm disease positive animal. This is because though highly effective, it is a slower acting agent than some of the other heartworm drugs. Most dogs will be able to absorb the volume of dead heartworm created by the drug.

Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Plus, Tri-Heart Plus and Iverhart Mac are the leading brands of Ivermectin based oral dog heartworm medicine. Heartgard is the leading brand of Ivermectin based oral heartworm cats medicine.

In the United States all oral heartworm medicines are prescription only. You can still shop around for the best deals though as sometimes your vet will not be the most economical source of your pet meds. Online pet med stores will accept faxed scripts from your vet or will actually be partially staffed by fully qualified veterinary professionals who can write out your prescription as you order.

Don't forget too, if you are hunting for a bargain there are generic heartworm pills available. Sadly it is very difficult to get hold of generic heartworm medicines for cats because less cat owners take the precaution of using heartworm pills. But, for dog owners there are bargains to be found.

Valuheart and Generic Heartguard (Nuheart) are the most widely available generic Ivermectin heartworm pills at present.

You can check the ingredients to ensure the Ivermectin volume is the same for the generic make as opposed to the big name brand so you know you will be getting exactly the same heartworm protection from the product. Usually these generic heartworm meds are only a few dollars cheaper than the bigger name brands. But, over the lifetime of your dog or cat, all those few dollars can really add up.

Whether you choose a generic or branded product just ensure you stay up to date with your pet's heartworm medicine please!

Cat Heartworm - Prevention

2009-06-02T08:27:00.003+01:00

At the moment, not enough people take the time to look at Cat Heartworm Prevention. Vets, worldwide are reporting more an more cases of cats with heartworm, but agree there are far more cases than they ever actually see. All new cat owners should check with their vet whether heartworm is a threat to their cat, and act accordingly. Anywhere heartworm is a problem for dogs it is likely to threaten cats too. All over the United States, Europe and Australia cat heartworm cases are increasing.

It is easy to hope for the best. Looking at heartworm in cats we saw that often the disease is not so long-lived or so deadly as with dogs. But we also saw that it will kill at random. There is no way of knowing if your cat is one of the lucky ones who'll be able to fight off the disease herself, or if she will be unlucky and likely to be killed by even the smallest heartworm infestation.

Cats are far more vulnerable to reactions with insecticidal products so heartworm treatment for cats already infected is often very minimal. Many of the drugs administered to dogs would be too dangerous to give a cat. The Heartworm Society confirm there are currently No Cat Heartworm Treatments available approved by the FDA. That is very worrying news as it means if your cat becomes infected with heartworm, there is unlikely to be much active treatment your vet can carry out.

Luckily there are currently four products licensed in the United States for use to prevent your cat getting heartworm in the first place. Yes, the choice is less than with Preventative Heartworm for Dogs Medicines, but it is still a choice. The products must be bought with a veterinary prescription, so when you get your vet to write up that script for pet meds, make sure to ask their advice too.

All cat heartworm meds are highly effective. One of the main deciding factors about which to purchase is likely to be based on whether you find chew-ables or topical spot on treatments easiest to administer. All must be given to your cat monthly and it is advisable that your vet screens your cat for heartworm disease prior to commencing any heartworm preventative medicine.

Oral Heartworm Pills

Nursing and pregnant cats or those in poor health should not be given oral heartworm meds without consulting your vet. The reasoning behind this is that studies tend not to be carried out on such animals, so though products are presumed safe they have not been proven so by the manufacturers. Vomiting is the primary side-effect found in less than 1% of pets. Remember to check a pet vomiting in case the chewable has not yet been digested. In which case you may need to retreat.

Heartgard for Cats

Ivermectin is the leading choice for treating both adult and young heartworm in dogs and now it is used to prevent cat heartworm too. Ivermectin is available as an oral cat heartworm pill with Merial's Heartgard. These are given monthly as a chewable tablet. Ivermectin also prevents hookworm and roundworm in your cat. Most cats are good at accepting meaty chewable medications, and with few side effects this is the leading method of preventing Cat Heartworm. This is recommended from kittens of six weeks.

It must be given every month as between treatments your cat may come into contact with heartworm, which need to be killed by the next treatment before they develop further.

Interceptor Heartworm Prevention

Interceptor is based on Milbemycin oxime. This effectively kills adult heartworms, roundworms and hookworms. Again, these chew-ables must be taken every month, as juvenile heartworms can infect your pet between treatments. Cats over 1.5 lbs and more than six weeks of age are suitable for this heartworm treatment.

Spot On Cat Heartworm Treatment

For many people, spot on treatments are easier to administer as some cats can be notoriously fussy about taking even the nicest, meatiest chewable pill. These heartworm treatments are dropped onto the cat's skin between the shoulder-blades. Unlike the oral heartworm meds, these remain active during the month between treatments providing continual heartworm prevention.

Side effects are very uncommon. Studies show less than 1% of cats react and generally this is only with a temporary loss of some fur. Products of this nature are not normally tested on nursing, pregnant or ill animals so speak to your vet before treating such a cat.

Revolution for Cats

Revolution Heartworm Treatment for Cats is based on Selamectin which is a highly effective way of targeting multiple parasites. Revolution is carried over your cat's skin destroying fleas, flea eggs and ear mites. The Selamectin also moves into the bloodstream where it prevents heartworm plus preventing and treating roundworm and hookworm.

Revolution for Cats can be an easy way to combine various parasite controls making it easier to keep up-to-date with your cat's meds. As this is a prescription only medication there are tighter controls and more monitoring of the product than with some over-the-counter pet meds too.

Advantage Multi for Cats

This takes the flea killing power of leading cat flea treatment Advantage, and adds some heartworm meds too. Another spot on product which gives a month of flea prevention, destroying ear mites, heartworm, hookworm and roundworm. However, it does so with two different active ingredients; Imidacloprid and Moxidectin.

Probably because so many people use ordinary Advantage Flea Control, this has become a leader in the fight against Cat Heartworm.

Topical or Oral Heartworm Medicine?

It really depends on what you are happy with, and how difficult your cat makes either treatment be! The primary advantage of spot on topical heartworm meds is that they also provide flea control. But, if you live in a place where ticks are also a problem, you will still need to keep an eye out for cat tick problems too.

As many cats are amenable to eating the newer meaty chewable medications, Heartgard is a good choice in Cat Heartworm Treatment. The active ingredient is used for treating heartworm disease in dogs and is highly effective. it is also, constantly under scrutiny because it is so widely used. That means any dangers or problems with it would be widely known very quickly. Using an oral heartworm treatment means you can use a wider spectrum cat flea and tick treatment additionally.

Preventing Heartworm for Dogs - Types of Prevention Medicine

2009-05-25T17:07:00.009+01:00

Preventing heartworm for dogs is critical if you live in a heartworm area. Increasingly this means it is critical to prevent heartworm for more and more of us. Although more prevalent where mosquitoes breed year round, the disease is now found all over the United States and in wide areas of Europe and Australasia. As heartworm treatment is so difficult, costly and risky preventing heartworm is most definitely preferred, if there is any risk of the disease.

There are a few different types of preventative available and some will deal with other pests too.

Types of Product to Prevent Heartworm for Dogs

There are three ways to prevent heartworm for dogs; heartworm tablets, topical treatments and a six monthly heartworm injection. Ideally a dog should be tested for heartworm infection prior to starting any heartworm preventative medicine. If this is not possible ensure you check below to see which heartworm meds are safe to use on a dog which is already infected with the disease. Some can put your dog in danger if he already has a high worm load.

Oral Heartworm Pills

Heartworm Pills or chewables are available in either daily or monthly doses. Heartworm Pills contain Ivermectin or Milbemyclin Oxime.

Ivermectin Based Heartworm Pills

This is the drug of choice in the treatment of dogs who already have heartworm disease, in which case it is taken under veterinary supervision. It is also a highly effective heartworm preventative. Ivermectin is designed to destroy any microfilariae which have infected the dog in the month since its last tablet. Alongside this it is effective in preventing female adult heartworm from reproducing. Its introduction meant heartworm meds could be given on a monthly rather than a daily basis. Ivermectin will kill the microfilariae (young larval stage worms) that are up to two months old. This means it is highly effective even if a dose is mistimed.

Although it is preferable to test dogs for heartworm before any treatment Ivemectin is a low dose and slow killer so unlikely to cause your dog any problem if given after heartworm infection. In fact Ivermectin is the initial treatment for heartworm infected dogs, but ideally the dog would receive treatment under veterinary supervision so any reaction could be monitored.

There have been reports that collie breeds are more sensitive to Ivermectin but the doses contained in any monthly tablet or chewable are so low that the FDA and Heartworm Society confirm no ill effect should present itself with any breed.

The amount of Ivermectin are so low in heartworm preventatives that other insecticides are added to create products which combat other parasites too. Pyrantel Pamoate is added to several products to prevent hookworms and roundworms. Praziquantel is added along with Pyrantel Pamoate to prevent tapeworm too.

The following Ivermectin based products add Pyrantel Pamoate to prevent heartworm, hookworm and roundworm: Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Plus and Tri-Heart Plus. Iverhart Mac also include Praziquantel so preventing heartworm, hookworm, roundworm and tapeworm.

Milbemclin Oxime Based Heartworm Pills

Milbemyclin works in a similar way to Ivermectin, destroying young larvae who have infected the dog during the last month and discouraging adult female reproduction. However it is not quite so effective at preventing reproduction than the Ivermectin alternative, so if a dog has missed several months of heartworm preventative it is better to start again with an Ivermectin based product.

Another issue with Milbemclin is that it kills the microfilariae very rapidly. If the dog being treated already has a heartworm infection the sheer scale of dead heartworm can cause the dog to go into shock. If there is any doubt about the heartworm disease status of a dog the Ivermectin based product should be chosen. Usually your vet will advise a complete heartworm test prior to starting any treatment so this issue should not become a problem.

Milbemclin is able to prevent other parasitic infections alone. So using a Milbemclin based heartworm pill means you can also prevent roundworms, whipworms and hookworms. Some products combine Milbemclin with Lufenuron to provide an effective flea treatment too. Although fleas are not killed, they are sterilised so will not lay viable eggs after feeding. For dogs who are not exposed to high flea concentrations regularly this makes an effective heartworm and flea medicine option.

The other plus point for the Milbemclin based heartworm medicines is that there is no breed sensitivity to the active ingredients.

Interceptor is the leading Milbemclin based oral heartworm medicine. While Sentinel usesMilbemclin with the addition of Lufenuron to provide parasitic worm and flea prevention.

Topical Heartworm Medicine

Rather like Frontline, these topical heartworm preventatives are squeezed directly onto the skin of the dog. Contains Selamectin or Moxidectin.

Selamectin Based Topical Heartworm Medicine

Selamectin is a broad spectrum insecticide, treating ear-mites, fleas, flea eggs, ticks and sarcoptic mange mites. It is not so effective in killing larval stage heartworm so is not used to treat heartworm disease but is an effective preventative treatment.

It is safe if accidentally given to heartworm infected dogs. As it is not so good at treating heartworm already growing it is not a good product to use if you've missed a few heartworm preventive doses previously.

Revolution is the primary Selamectin based topical heartworm preventative providing additional flea, mite mange and tick prevention.

Moxidectin Based Topical Heatworm Medicine

Moxidectin is another broad spectrum insecticide. It is used in conjunction with Imidocloprid to kill heartworm, hookworm, roundworm, whipworm and fleas. Like Selamectin this is safe if given to heartworm positive dogs but is not generally considered effective enough to treat heartworm disease once established.

Advantage Multi is the current topical heartworm medicine using Moxidectin as its active ingredient. It treats fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm.

Heartworm Preventative Injection

This is a six monthly or annual injection carried out by your Vet. Contains Moxidectin.

This was actually withdrawn on a voluntary basis in the United States after safety concerns. It seems some of the solvents used in the manufacturer of the heartworm meds were causing serious allergic reactions in some dogs. The only product licensed in the United States in ProHeart 6 which was withdrawn in 2004. Since 2008 the product as become available again. There have been changes to the manufacturing process and since this heartworm medicine is used worldwide with few recorded problems the FDA has agreed it can remain a licensed treatment, while being closely monitored. A review of ProHeart 6 is due later in 2009 by the FDA.

Proheart 6 is the product currently providing six months or a year of heartworm and hookworm protection through an injection. In the United States dosages are low and given every six months but worldwide many places give a higher dose and only carry out the injection once a year.

Choosing Heartworm Medicine

All the products are effective, so the choice of injection, topical or oral heartworm medicine is a very personal one. Talk to your vet but also consider your lifestyle and your pets behaviour. If you have a dog fond of taking tablets they may be your best bet. Many people enjoy combining heatworm meds with flea prevention to reduce the number of different things we have to remember to administer to our pet. If you are the really forgetful type consider the injection.

Heartworm for Dogs - Prevention is Better Than Cure

2009-05-23T12:16:00.004+01:00

After looking at the symptoms of heartworm for dogs and indeed just how severe heartworm disease is, it makes sense to do all we can to prevent our dogs becoming infected in the first place. There is heartworm medicine for dogs which can be administered after infection but it is not totally reliable, and is costly and dangerous to administer. Much better to use heartworm medicine to prevent the disease in the first place. As heartworm disease is often missed until it reaches the latter deadly stages this is even more important.

Heartworm Medicine to Prevent Heartworm for Dogs

With heartworm becoming a worldwide problem for dogs, and no realistic way of eradicating the disease there is growing interest in heartworm medicine to prevent the disease occurring. New products do still appear from time to time and hopefully we will be offered more effective, safe and economical ways to prevent our dogs becoming hosts to heartworms. Dogs should always be seen by a vet before beginning any heartworm preventative medication. Indeed many of the products currently on the market are available only with a vet prescription anyway.

Your vet will know if there is a risk of your dog having heartworms already. In which case heartworm treatment rather than low dose prevention may be required. Any dog already at 7 months of age without previously being given heartworm medicine is at risk from already being a heartworm host. This is why it is important to start heartworm prevention medicine as early as possible in your pets life. Most products are suitable for puppies from two to three months old.

The chemicals contained in these heartworm preventatives are strong. There have been occasional cases of dogs reacting negatively to their use. In particular collie breeds are not very tolerant of one active ingredient. I will go into more detail in future posts as we discuss all the options available, but if in doubt seek professional advice. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are treated regularly without any adverse reaction and prevention is always more effective than treatment once the disease has taken hold. It is difficult not to worry about all these chemicals being administered to our pets. But we only need to see how devastating the effects of heartworm for dogs are, to be convinced that any responsible pet owner would rather avoid the disease occurring ever.

In the following post we will look at the options most widely available to prevent heartworm for dogs. There are daily tablets, monthly tablets, monthly spot on treatments and even yearly injections which prevent heartworm. Alongside any heartworm medicine we should be aiming to reduce our pets likelihood of encountering mosquitoes too. Although we cannot eliminate these flying pests from our world we can give them less places to live and breed where we live. Simple things like ensuring no stagnant water collects in our yard can have a huge and immediate impact on the number of mosquitoes in our homes and gardens. Similarly keeping dogs indoors from dusk till dawn will reduce its chances of becoming infected with heartworms. Dogs kept entirely indoors though are still at risk, mosquitoes are highly imaginative at finding ways into our homes.

Heartworm, Cats - Symptoms

2009-05-22T16:41:00.002+01:00

In the previous post I've gone into some detail about the symptoms of heartworm for dogs. In the 1920's heartworm was first described as a problem also in cats. Although many people use preventative heartworm medicine for their dogs, still relatively few do the same for their cats.

It is true the heartworm organism is designed specifically to live within a canine host. However, they will often survive in a feline one too. Wherever there is a problem of heartworm for dogs you can guarantee some level of heartworm in cats too. There is much less known about the true occurrence of heartworm in cats than dogs. One of the problems is that cats tend not to be postmortemed. So usually cats who die from the disease are never counted in any statistics. There are also many cats who just are not given the same level of veterinary care as dogs are. Many lead a semi wild existence, fed when they come home, but predominantly left to their own devices.

The other big reason heartworm for cats is such an unknown quantity is that as cats are not the perfect host to heartworm their reaction to the parasites is much more varied than for dogs. Some cats will fight off a heartworm infestation using their own immune system to destroy the parasites from within. Generally fewer heartworm will survive inside a cats body than in a dogs. So where a dog may have tens (or even hundreds in severe cases) of adult heartworms in their heart a cat will often have only a few. Heartworm tend to live only for two or three years in cats as opposed to five to seven in dogs. As some cats will fight off an infection, another will die with only one adult heartworm.

Heartworm in cats tend to cluster in the lungs so the symptoms tend to be respiratory, often leading to confusion between feline asthma, flu or heartworm. The symptoms cats exhibit when suffering heartworm disease are extremely non-specific and hard to decipher again leading to difficulties finding out the true number of cases.

Any cat which lives in a heartworm disease area may be infected. Preventive heartworm medicine is available for cats and much cheaper and safer than treatment after infection. Much of the medication used to treat heartworm for dogs is not actually suitable for cats at all. Often a cat with heartworm disease will merely be monitored and helped to fight off the infection itself, with additional medicines given to help alleviate symptoms of lung or other organ damage.

Areas which have dense mosquito populations year round are more prone to both cat and dog heartworm disease, but even areas with cool, mosquito-free winters are experiencing cases of heartworm for dogs and cats. Heartworm is a real threat in all the United States, Mediterranean & Western Europe, along with Australia. A few cases are beginning to be diagnosed in the United Kingdom too, as mosquitoes benefit from humid weather patterns.

Heartworm - Cats - Symptoms

It is now thought that cats previously diagnosed with feline asthma or bronchitis were actually suffering from heartworm disease. Most prevalent symptoms are associated with the respiratory system. Alongside this, there are other more general symptoms associated with most unwell cats.

Persistent cough.
Breathing difficulties - wheezing, gasping etc.
Vomiting unrelated to food.
Lethargy.
Unexplained weight-loss.
Depression.
Loss of appetite.
Feinting & Seizures.
Sudden death.

Problems of Heartworm in Cats

As the cat is not the ideal host for heartworm they usually will not breed inside your cat. This means the tiny young heartworm are not found in the bloodstream (or are only found in tiny numbers) making testing for feline heartworm extremely difficult.

With only a very small heart, one single adult heartworm may suddenly kill a cat. With less room, the feline heartworm often head for other organs as well as the heart, causing:

Liver damage.
Kidney damage.
Joint pain.
Eye pain.

Indoor cats are still very much at risk from heartworm so should be given a preventative heartworm medicine from a young age. In many areas, where mosquitoes are a seasonal nuisance heartworm medicine may only be required for part of the year. Always check with your vet to find out the risk in your area of heartworm.

Cats find it much more difficult to absorb dead heartworms so treatment to kill the adult worms is often non-existent. Preventative heartworm medicine is the only real way to ensure your cat does not get heartworm disease.

Heartworm for Dogs - Symptoms

2009-05-19T11:31:00.004+01:00

We've had a little look at how heartworms, dogs & cats co-exist in a way advantageous only for the heartworm. Now it is time to look more closely at the symptoms of heartworm for dogs. It is all very well saying we need to stop our dogs getting heartworm, but how will we know if they've beaten us, and our dog is infected?

Sadly the symptoms of heartworm for dogs are unlikely to arise until the heartworm have matured into adults, reached the heart and blood supply and then reproduced. It is then that the entire blood supply becomes home to tiny heartworms and things get really difficult for your pet. The immature worms infiltrate capillaries and organs.

Usually heartworms symptoms become apparent in Spring around six months after the mosquito season. It is then, that the heartworms have completed their life-cycle, reached maturity and bred more offspring. Until this has occurred heartworm tests are unlikely to show a true positive for heartworm disease in your pet.

Heartworm for Dogs - Symptoms

Coughing

The first sign of heartworm in most dogs is a coughing. This is easy to ignore as our pets get sniffles and coughs just like us. This makes it difficult to know whether or not to worry and contact the Vet. If your dog is coughing particularly when taking exercise or even just moving around, you should be concerned. Heartworm stops the flow of oxygenated blood between the heart and lungs meaning exercise is difficult while the lungs desperately try to get enough oxygen into the system to fuel the muscles for activity.

The number of heartworms in the heart and surrounding blood vessels will slow blood-flow and make all activity difficult. With a large number of worms in the heart, the wind-pipe is likely to be under pressure which will cause a rather dry cough. If the worm population is particularly large the dog may cough more when lying down due to increased pressure on the chest cavity.

Coughing associated with heartworms is likely to progress from a mild sounding problem to a deep-seated persistent cough from deep in the chest. Coughing associated with activity six months after the mosquito season is a common first sign that your dog could be infected with heartworm and should be checked out immediately.

Bloody Sputum

Blood in the saliva is a sure sign of trouble. Damage being done to the lungs would be of primary concern. If your pet has bloody saliva see your Vet. Nose bleeds are also a symptom of possible heartworm disease.

Breathing Difficulties

With lungs struggling, heart fighting to cope and a wind-pipe under pressure it is not surprising that many dogs with heartworm will show signs of breathing difficulties. Shortness of breath and gasping for air are indications that you should visit your Vet immediately.

Active dogs are likely to show signs of breathing problems earlier than inactive ones. This is because their bodies have to work harder to keep up with all that running around.

Lethargy

As the dog's body struggles to maintain liver function and blood supply it will over time weaken. Previously active dogs are likely to become sedate and no longer interested in playing or prolonged exercise. Only you will know if your dog is feeling weak or just lazy. Some dogs are continually active whilst others sleep their lives away. Always keep an eye on your pet's mood and general demeanour so you spot changes quickly. Lethargy is a symptom of many health problems, some serious and many minor. If it continues for more than a few days you should consult your Vet.

Loss of Appetite

A change in your dogs view on meal-times for more than a day or two is always a sign for concern. Any illness including heartworm disease can cause loss of appetite in your pet.

Weight Loss

If your dog is continuing to eat, but losing weight there is a problem. There could be any number of causes including heartworm disease.

Fluid Build Up

As heartworm disease progresses fluid may concentrate on the lungs causing pneumonia. This may be detected by a loud rattle when breathing. The abdominal cavity may also appear larger. As the kidneys an liver deteriorate they are unable to remove fluid and toxins from the system so fluid is retained.

Jaundice

Jaundice is a sign that heartworm have already caused liver damage. A visit to the vet is critical. Jaundice is most easily spotted as a yellow discoloration of the whites of the eyes, gums and skin.

Fainting & Collapse

Once this stage of heartworm disease is reached your dog is very poorly indeed and is experiencing Vena Cava or Caval Syndrome. Loss of conciousness is due to the obstruction in heart and blood vessels dramatically reducing, or stopping blood supply. It is possible that no treatment will now be able to remedy the situation.

Problems of Heartworm for Dogs

Alongside these heartworm symptoms which you may, or may not encounter, the heartworms will be affecting your dog in ways you are unlikely to notice. As the number of heartworm increase they congregate in organs, joints and the eyes causing further damage, pain and distress.

Liver damage.
Kidney damage.
Joint pain.
Eye pain.

One of the biggest problems of heartworm for dogs is the difficulty in catching it early enough. A normally sedate dog may cope with little obvious sign of the disease for years. Then, when you do see indications of heartworm disease it is often very risky and difficult to eradicate. Extremely active dogs will generally show signs much earlier, but must be treated earlier as they are less able to deal with the stresses that heartworm population put on their bodies.

As with many dog health problems, heartworm symptoms can easily be symptoms of other problems which is why it is crucial, to remain vigilant and unafraid to consult a Vet at the earliest opportunity. There is no home remedy to deal with heartworm for dogs. You will need professional treatment to help your pet.

Heartworms, Dogs & Cats

2009-05-15T14:38:00.002+01:00

Heartworm disease is caused by a round threadlike worm called Dirofilaria immitis. This parasite requires two host animals to complete its life-cycle; the mosquito and the dog. Heartworm medicine can be used once an animal has become infected with heartworms. Dogs and cats can also be given preventative treatment to minimise the risk of becoming infected with the parasites.

Heartworm treatment is costly, risky and stressful for your pet. Preventing heartworm in the first place is much cheaper and safer for your pet. Once we look into the symptoms of heartworm for dogs you will really see why prevention is most definitely better than cure.

Heartworm was only recognized as a problem for dogs at the turn of the 20th Century. Twenty years later cat heartworm was also diagnosed. Since then the heartworm nematode has increased its numbers and spread far and wide. Originally a tropical to subtropical problem heartworm is now common in temperate regions too. Throughout the United States and Europe heartworms, dogs and to a lesser extent cats co-exist.

Wherever mosquitoes breed heartworm is a threat to our pets.

Heartworms Dogs & Cats

The heartworm nematode enjoys two hosts during its life-cycle. Heartworm live their lives ideally in dogs and female mosquitoes. They can also infect cats too, but thrive more readily when transmitted to a canine host.

Heartworm Life Cycle

The heartworm goes through a series of molts and changes into different larvae, microscopic filial worms and eventually adult worms up to 14" long. The main stages which concern the dog owner are as follows:

Adult heartworm up to 14" long living in right ventricle and pulmonary arteries. On sexual maturity they release microscopic worms called microfilariae into the hosts blood supply.

Microfilariae do not develop further within the dog host, but rather wait for another mosquito bite. They are ingested by female mosquitoes as they feed.

Over the next two to three weeks the heartworms develop in the kidney of the mosquito. Going through several larval stages and molts, to develop into infective larvae.

The infective larvae congregate in the mouth-parts and head of the female mosquito, ready to be transported into the next appropriate hose from which she feeds. Ideally a dog.

When injected into a dog's bloodstream the infective larvae stage heartworm head for the abdominal cavity and go through another two larval stages.

Finally the heartworm molt into young adults, penetrate the blood vessels and make their way towards the heart.

After around 3 months the heartworm finally reach the heart of your dog. Here they grow, mature and eventually breed.

7 months after first infection, the heartworm release their descendants - tiny microfilariae worms into the dogs bloodstream. It is only at this stage that the dog is likely to show any symptom of disease - 7 months after being infected! This new generation will not develop further in this dog, but rather congregate in the blood vessels, near the skin waiting for a mosquito to pick them up.

Because the adult heartworm lives in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries, it effects the blood supply to other organs. Add, to that a heavy load of tiny immature worms living throughout the blood vessels and you can see any dog is likely to become unwell. Active dogs are likely to suffer more symptoms than inactive ones, as they need their heart and blood supply to be ready to burst into action to cope with their demanding exercise. The adult heartworms will live in your dog's blood system for 5 to 7 years.

Once the adult heartworm have set up residence, the only way to 'cure' your dog is with high does of heartworm medicine to kill the adults and then flush them out of the system. The treatment is costly and dangerous. The dog is at risk as the heartworms die inside its own blood supply. The dog must undergo forced rest as any activity or excitement at this stage could be fatal.

Cat Heartworm

Ideally the heartworm nematode wants to reach adulthood in a dog or other canine. However, if injected into a cat they will survive. But, being in the 'wrong' host animal they often congregate in areas other than the heart. This makes cat heartworm an often undiagnosed problem. Cat's seem to have more resilience to heartworm so the parasites rarely produce large numbers of microfilariae worms in the blood stream. Often they will have only one sex of adult worm in their hearts and usually at much smaller numbers (only 2 or 3) than associated with dogs. Heartworm tends to survive in cats for less time too, usually only up to 3 years.

Cats are often able to fight off heartworm infections themselves. There is much more research to be done, but it seems that as the cats are not the perfect host they are given more scope to fight off the invaders. However many cats do succumb to heartworm infestations. Only 2 or 3 adult worms will often kill a cat. The worms often congregate in the cat's other organs too, particularly the lungs causing severe bronchitis like symptoms.

Cat heartworm treatment is even more risky than for dogs so in areas with a risk of heartworm it is advisable to use heartworm meds aimed at preventing infection in the first place.

Cat heartworm is just as likely for indoors cats as those who venture into the wider world, simply because mosquitoes are such a difficult insect to keep out effectively.

Heartworms, Dogs & Cats

Heartworm in dogs and cats is spreading geographically and rapidly multiplying in number of cases. The wild and stray dog populations of many areas are now hosts to the disease making any hope of truly eradicating the problem more of a dream than a reality.

Pets which live in heartworm areas must receive preventative heartworm meds and pets who live in borderline areas should receive a preventative treatment at least during the warmer months when mosquitoes are more active. Heartworms, dogs & cats are a really dangerous combination.

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2009-05-15T14:07:00.002+01:00

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