Heartworm

The best selling dog prescription heartworm brands are:

• Heartgard
• Tri-Heart Plus
• Sentinel

Finding the best heartworm preventative medication for your dog is a decision that is best made in partnership with your veterinarian. The right heartworm preventive medication for your dog depends on a lot of factors you can discuss with your veterinarian. The great news is there are a lot of options, which include injectable long-lasting preventative, chewable, topical application – and combinations that also prevent against internal parasites like roundworms and external parasites like fleas and ticks. Depending on the lifestyle and needs of you and your pet, you can select from many options. Breed is also taken into consideration when choosing the best heartworm therapy for your pet. Some breeds such as collies, may have an increased sensitivity to the active ingredient Ivermectin.

Yes, you need a prescription for heartworm preventative in the United States. Most Veterinarians require a recent negative heartworm test be on file before prescribing heartworm preventatives. Heartworm testing is performed annually to ensure your pet continues to be free from heartworms and it’s safe to continue to administer the heartworm medication prescribed by your veterinarian.

Yes, it's recommended that you keep your pet on year-round heartworm prevention treatment, because carriers of the disease never truly go away. Many heartworm preventative medications include preventatives for other worms your dog may contract. Indoor dogs also benefit from year-round protection, due to the variety of worms and diseases that your dog may encounter throughout the year.

It depends on the preventative you and your veterinarian have selected is best for your pet. Most oral or topical preventatives are given monthly and should be used year-round. The current injectable heartworm preventatives are administered by a veterinarian either every 6 or 12 months. Proper dosing and administration should be discussed with your veterinarian.