Heartworm Medications for Dogs

A Comparison of Popular Canine Heartworm Preventive Medicines

May 14, 2009

There are numerous medications which can be used to prevent heartworms in dogs. All are effective but there are differences in them as well. Read on to find out more.

Preventing heartworms in dogs is an important part of routine canine preventive health care. Currently, there are numerous products available which help to prevent heartworm infection and heartworm disease in dogs. All of these heartworm medications have been thoroughly tested and all are effective in preventing hearworms in dogs. However, there are important differences between them which may affect which heartworm medication a dog owner elects to use.

Heartgard Heartworm Medication for Dogs

Heartgard is one of the most popular heartworm medications currently available. Most commonly used is Heartgard Plus, which contains ivermectin and pyrantel as its active ingredients. Heartgard Plus is available as a chewable flavored medication which is administered monthly to prevent heartworms in dogs. In addition to being an effective heartworm medicine, Heartgard Plus also helps to control roundworms and hookworms.

Other Ivermectin-Based Heartworm Medications for Dogs

Heartgard Plus for dogs is probably the most well known brand of the ivermectin-based heartworm preventive medicines. However, there are several other heartworm preventive medicines which contain ivermectin as well. These include:

Because these medications contain ivermectin as their active ingredient, they are also effective heartworm preventive medications.

Interceptor Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

Interceptor heartworm medication for dogs contains milbemycin as the active ingredient. Like Heartgard Plus, Interceptor is available as a flavored chewable tablet which is administered once monthly. Like Heartgard Plus, Interceptor also helps to control roundworms and hookworms in dogs. Unlike Heartgard Plus, Interceptor is also effective in helping to control whipworm infections in dogs.

Revolution Heartworm Medications for Dogs

Revolution for dogs differs from Heartgard Plus and Interceptor in that Revolution is a liquid medication which is applied topically to the skin. Application is recommended on a monthly basis.

Revolution contains selamectin as its active ingredients. Selamectin is quite effective as a heartworm preventive medication, but it also helps prevent several other canine parasites, including:

Advantage Multi Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

Advantage Multi, like Revolution, is a topically-applied liquid medication which effectively prevents heartworm infection when applied monthly. Advantage Multi contains imidacloprid and moxidectin as its active ingredients.

Like Revolution for dogs, Advantage Multi is also effective at controlling several other canine parasites, including:

Advantage Multi for dogs differs from Advantage for dogs. Advantage for dogs contains only imidacloprid (not moxidectin), and Advantage for dogs is not an effective heartworm medication although it does control fleas.

Deciding Which Heartworm Medicine is Best

Each of these heartworm preventive medications are effective in preventing heartworms, but each has advantages and disadvantages. Dog owners should contemplate which medication is most convenient for them to administer to the pet (oral versus topical). Dog owners may also want to consider whether additional benefits, such as flea control or control of intestinal parasites, is desirable.

All heartworm medicines, though considered to be safe products, have the risk of side effects for an individual dog. Dog owners should read the product label thoroughly before administering any medication to their dog and follow dosing instructions exactly to avoid potential complications.

The copyright of the article Heartworm Medications for Dogs in Pet Products is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Heartworm Medications for Dogs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.