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Irrespective of their breeds, sizes and ages, all dogs are susceptible to heartworm infestations. The long, thread-like parasites infest our doggos' hearts, lungs and blood vessels and cause life-threatening infection. If they are not addressed on time, the harmful parasites can cause dreadful damage to your dog's vital organs that can even lead to its death. Therefore, as dog parents, it is crucial that you administer your pooch with effective heartworm preventives so as to keep it safe from harmful infestations. In this blog, we will discuss 7 of the most popular heartworm preventives for dogs for you to choose according to your canine's suitability. Let's get started.

Popular Heartworm Preventives for Dogs Let's take a glance at some of the most effective heartworm preventives for dogs.

Heartgard Plus

Heartgard Plus comes in the form of highly palatable beef-flavored chews and works excellently to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. Composed of Ivermectin and Pyrantel as its active ingredients, the formula eliminates the tissue stage of heartworm larvae, thus preventing heartworm disease in dogs. It is suitable for dogs and puppies from 6 weeks of age. Heartgard Plus is designed for monthly administration and also works well to treat and control roundworms and hookworms.

• Product Form: Oral Chews
• Available Packs: 6 Doses, 12 Doses
• Dosage: Once a Month
• Active Ingredients: Ivermectin and Pyrantel
• Recommended For: Dogs and Puppies from 6 Weeks of Age

Benefits of Heartgard Plus

• Comes in the form of highly palatable beef-flavored chews
• Easy-to-administer treatment
• Prevents heartworm disease in dogs by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae
• Treats and controls hookworms and roundworms
• Suitable for dogs and puppies from 6 weeks of age

Interceptor

Interceptor is a broad-spectrum wormer that comes in the form of highly palatable chews. It prevents heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae. This oral chew is formulated using Milbemycin oxime as its active ingredient and can be safely used in dogs and puppies from 4 weeks of age, weighing at least 2 lbs. Interceptor can also be used to remove and control whipworms, roundworms, and hookworms.

• Product Form: Oral Chews
• Available Packs: 3 Doses, 6 Doses, 12 Doses
• Dosage: Once a Month
• Active Ingredient: Milbemycin oxime
• Recommended For: Dogs and Puppies from 4 Weeks of Age, Weighing At Least 2 lbs

Benefits of Interceptor

• Prevents heartworm disease in dogs by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae
• Comes in the form of highly palatable chews
• Controls adult hookworms
• Eliminates and controls adult roundworms and whipworms
• Designed for dogs and puppies from 4 weeks of age, weighing at least 2 lbs

Revolution

Designed for topical administration, Revolution protects dogs from heartworm disease. The monthly preventive is composed of Selamectin as its active ingredient and is very easy to administer. It is suitable for dogs and puppies from 6 weeks of age. Besides preventing heartworm disease, Revolution also protects dogs against fleas, ticks, sarcoptic mange and ear mites.

• Product Form: Topical Formula
• Available Packs: 3 Doses, 6 Doses
• Dosage: Once a Month
• Active Ingredient: Selamectin
• Recommended For: Dogs and Puppies from 6 Weeks of Age

Benefits of Revolution

• Broad-spectrum parasitic treatment for dogs
• Prevents heartworm disease
• Treats Effective against fleas, ticks, mange and mites
• Formulated for monthly administration
• Suitable for dogs and puppies from 6 weeks of age

Advantage Multi

Advantage Multi is a topical formula that works efficiently to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. Formulated using Imidacloprid and Moxidectin as its active ingredients, the formula is designed for monthly administration. Suitable for dogs and puppies from 7 weeks of age, Advantage Multi is also effective against fleas, sarcoptic mange, as well as intestinal worms like hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.

• Product Form: Topical Formula
• Available Packs: 3 Doses, 6 Doses, 12 Doses
• Dosage: Once a Month
• Active Ingredients: Imidacloprid and Moxidectin
• Recommended For: Dogs and Puppies from 7 Weeks of Age

Benefits of Advantage Multi

• Prevents heartworm disease in dogs and puppies
• Designed for topical administration
• Treats flea infestations
• Treats and controls roundworms, hookworms and whipworms
• Effective against sarcoptic mange
• Can be safely used in dogs and puppies from 7 weeks of age

NexGard Spectra

NexGard Spectra comes in the form of highly palatable beef-flavored chews and works well to prevent heartworm disease in dogs and puppies from 8 weeks of age. Formulated using Afoxolaner and Milbemycin Oxime as its active ingredients, NexGard Spectra should be administered once a month. The formula also protects against fleas, ticks, mites, mange and intestinal worms (roundworms, hookworms and whipworms).

• Product Form: Oral Chews
• Available Packs: 3 Doses, 6 Doses
• Dosage: Once a Month
• Active Ingredients: Afoxolaner and Milbemycin
• Recommended For: Dogs and Puppies from 8 Weeks of Age

Benefits of NexGard Spectra

• Broad-spectrum parasitic treatment for dogs
• Comes in the form of palatable beef-flavored chews
• Prevents heartworm disease
• Treats and controls roundworms, hookworms and whipworms
• Effective against mange and mites
• Suitable for dogs and puppies from 8 weeks of age

Simparica TRIO

Simparica TRIO is a broad-spectrum treatment formulated for dogs and puppies from 8 weeks of age, weighing at least 2.8 lbs. It comes in the form of chewable tablets and is designed for monthly administration. It is composed of Sarolaner, Moxidectin and Pyrantel as its active ingredients. The treatment works well to prevent heartworm disease in canines. It is also effective against fleas, ticks, hookworms and roundworms. Simparica TRIO further helps in the prevention of Lyme Disease.

• Product Form: Oral Chews
• Available Packs: 3 Doses, 6 Doses, 12 Doses
• Dosage: Once a Month
• Active Ingredients: Sarolaner, Moxidectin and Pyrantel
• Recommended For: Dogs and Puppies from 8 Weeks of Age, Weighing At Lease 2.8 lbs

Benefits of Simparica TRIO

• Broad-spectrum parasitic protection for dogs
• Comes in the form of Pork liver-flavored chews
• Aids in the prevention of heartworm disease
• Kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs
• Treats and controls 5 tick species
• Indicated for the prevention of Lyme disease due to killing Deer ticks
• Improves the signs of flea allergy dermatitis
• Treats and controls hookworms and roundworms

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How important is year-round prevention of heartworm disease?

Year-round heartworm prevention is critically important for dogs because mosquitoes, which transmit heartworm larvae, are active throughout the year. Skipping even a single dose leaves your dog vulnerable to infection, which causes severe damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries, making prevention far easier and safer than treatment.

2. What if my dog misses a dose of its monthly heartworm preventive?

If your dog misses a monthly heartworm dose, redose immediately if it's only a few days late, then reset your schedule. However, if it's been more than a couple of weeks or a month, seek your vet's advice.

3. Is there any vaccine that can protect my dog against heartworms?

There is no vaccine that protects dogs from heartworm infection. The best way to provide your dog protection against heartworms is by administering oral or spot-on heartworm preventives.

4. Do heartworm preventives protect against other parasites?

Besides protecting against heartworms, many heartworm preventives also control roundworms, hookworms, fleas, ticks and mites.

5. Is prevention of heartworms better than treatment?

Prevention of heartworms is way easier, safer and cheaper, as treatment involves painful injections and strict restrictions on activities for months.

6. Are heartworm preventives for dogs safe?

Heartworm preventives designed for dogs are completely safe as long as they are administered according to the instructions provided in the product label.

7. Do heartworm preventives kill adult heartworms?

Heartworm preventives are not designed to kill adult heartworms. They are only formulated to kill heartworm larvae, stopping them from maturing. Administering a heartworm preventive to a dog infested with adult heartworms can be dangerous and won't treat the infection. Therefore, it is important to test a dog for heartworms before starting a preventive.

Ending Note

Heartworm prevention in dogs is crucial, as early intervention is way safer and much more cost-effective than treating advanced infections. However, it is important that you always get your canine baby tested for existing heartworms before starting prevention.

At OurPetWarehouse, we carry the above-mentioned heartworm preventives along with a wide range of other preventives. Check out our online store to procure your preferred treatments at the best prices.