For information on Heartgard
Common Worms In Dogs And Their Prevention
Who doesn't love their furry friend? They stay with you through thick and thin and soon become a critical part of life. Just as humans suffer from lice and dandruff problems during their lifetime, dogs also develop worms. There is no denying the fact that the thought of worms in dogs is pathetic, and the worst part is when they cannot express their condition.
You don't want your friend to go through this miserable situation where the crawlies infest their internal organs. However, you can prevent their condition from worsening and treat the worms with the right knowledge.
For that, you will have to understand the symptoms, risks, and other treatment options for worms. This is an important responsibility for people who are dog owners. You can consider giving them medicines like Heartgard plus dog chews that can help prevent, treat, and control the development of several worms.
5 Common Worms In Dogs And Their Prevention
Keep reading to know the most common worms that dogs can develop and how you can prevent them from spreading.
Whipworms
Whipworms are a kind of worm that lives in the cecum (the opening of their large intestine) and colon, the place where they pass the eggs into feces. They develop whipworms when they ingest a previously infested substance, such as water, soil, animal flesh, etc. The egg can easily last for up to four years in warm and moist climates, so you must sanitize your dog for good health.
Prevent your dog from ingesting stuff from open spaces when you take them out for walks and take extra care.
Roundworms
Roundworms are one of the most common types of worms found in the intestines of dogs. Two major types of roundworms are found: Toxascaris Leonina and Toxocara Canis (T. Canis). The T.Canis is commonly found in puppies, and it can easily get transferred to humans. Many puppies have had roundworms since birth which they obtain from their dam. Hence, puppies must be provided with proper veterinary care.
When your dog is young, choose to deworm them every few weeks for best results. Also, to prevent heartworms, you should give them proper medication. You should also keep them away from small, wild animals to prevent the development of roundworms in them.
Hookworms
Another common type of worm is found in dogs. They are intestinal parasites that can cause anemia in dogs and are fatal for puppies if you leave them untreated in them. Numerous kinds of hookworms can infect dogs. The Hookworms are very small in size, only about ⅛ of an inch, but they can feed on large amounts of blood from the dogs if they stick to the intestinal wall.
They develop hookworms when they eat infected dirt, lick the dirt from their paws, or sniff dogs' infected feces. You should be careful about the symptoms of developing hookworms and get them diagnosed at the earliest.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are another parasite that dogs usually develop in their intestines when they eat infected fleas or consume wild animals infested with tapeworms or fleas. After the dog consumes the flea, the egg of tapeworms hatches, and they get attached to the intestinal lining of dogs. The tapeworms can easily pass from fleas to dogs, thereby giving another reason why you should take tapeworm prevention seriously.
If you notice signs of tapeworm in your dog's stool or find them scooting on the ground, you should choose to get them diagnosed for all possible infections and worms. If your vet finds a positive sign of tapeworms, they will recommend a regime and drug for your dog to get rid of it.
Heartworms
Out of all the other kinds of worms found in dogs, heartworms are the most worrisome and most preventable. The mosquitoes transmit this parasite, and because keeping your dogs away from mosquitoes every time is nearly impossible, vets suggest regular preventatives. This will help keep your dog safe from heartworms.
The heartworms grow and multiply within the heart of your dog, and they may cause serious lung diseases, organ damage, heart failure, etc. In some cases, that may get fatal and cause deaths as well. Preventing heartworm development is the best solution since its treatment is expensive and lengthy. Hence, it is recommended that you take them for regular testing to ensure that matters don't get worse.
Summary
As a dog owner, you should be vigilant and aware of all warning signs that your dog is showing. Take those signs seriously since they may depict that your dog is developing worms. Flea control, cleaning dog waste, and preventative measures help keep your dog safe and healthy.
Ultimate Guide to Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs
Meet Top Heart Protector: Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs!
Heartgard Plus Chewables is the veterinarian, FDA, and EPA-approved medication that protects your dogs from dangerous internal parasites, such as heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and ascarids. Safe and effective, Heartgard Plus Chewables is a real beef chewable taken monthly to especially prevent vicious heartworm disease.
As a preventative drug, Heartgard Plus Chewables should only be used on untreated dogs. Make sure your pup is tested by your veterinarian before use.
How do Heartgard Plus Chewables work?
Heartgard Plus Chewables is a medication with two active ingredients. Ivermectin and Pyrantel are both anthelmintics or dewormers.
Ivermectin is commonly known as a heartworm preventative by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae (Dirofilaria immitis). It is a monthly anti-parasitic agent that paralyzes, kills, and treats infections caused by gastrointestinal parasites. Pyrantel pamoate is used to treat roundworm, hookworm, and stomach worm parasites in dogs.
NOTE: FDA-approved Ivermectin has broad-spectrum anti-parasitic and anti-viral activity in vitro. It is an inhibitor of the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Ivermectin is widely available due to its inclusion on the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of essential medicines.
How are Heartgard Plus Chewables administered?
Heartgard Plus Chewables are administered orally once a month and protect your dog to be worm-free for the next 30 days. These real beef-flavored chewable tablets can be used as dog treats or eaten with the dog's food. Heartgard Plus Chewables are used year-round for maximum prevention effectiveness.
WeightIvermectin/Pyrantel Content per tablet (mcg/mg)No. of Tablets0 - 25 lbs.68/57One26 - 50 lbs.136/114One51 - 100 lbs.272/227One
What are the precautions of which you should be aware?
Most importantly, ensure that every dog is tested for heartworm infection before beginning prevention therapy and using Heartgard Plus Chewables.
Oral Heartgard Plus Chewables are effective against the tissue heartworm larval stage of D. immitis for a month after infections of the preventative. However, Heartgard Plus Chewables cannot prevent the development of the adult stage.
Use with caution for collies and other herding dog breeds. These breeds have been known to have adverse reactions to ivermectin at elevated dose levels. Lastly, use the right and recommended dose level for pregnant or breeding dogs, stud dogs, and puppies at least 6 weeks old.
What are the potential side effects of which you should be aware?
Heartgard Plus Chewables is well tolerated by most dogs. Some unfriendly but uncommon reactions have been reported, such as vomiting, diarrhea, depression, lethargy, and hypersalivation. An overdose may cause tremors, disorientation, mydriasis, blindness, or loss of appetite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Heartgard Plus?
Heartgard Plus for dogs is a chewable heartworm medicine for dogs. The Heartgard medication is heartworm chewable for dogs, which offers protection against heartworms. These heartworm chews kill heartworms before they even pose a serious health threat to your dog.
Heartworm infestation may progress to become what is called heartworm disease, which causes significant damage to vital organs. This can lead to severe lung issues, heart failure, and untimely death. Therefore, it's a must to have your canine friend on a monthly cycle of Heartgard Plus dewormer.
Do I Need a Prescription for Heartgard Plus for Dogs?
Yes, Heartgard Plus is a prescription medicine and requires Heartgard prescribing information to purchase. All effective heartworm medications, including Heartgard Plus, require a prescription in the US.
While purchasing Heartgard plus chewables without a vet is possible, it involves a lot of risks. Therefore, it's advisable to get FDA-approved preventives like Heartgard Plus with a proper prescription from your vet.
Does Heartgard Plus Kill Tapeworms?
Heartgard plus ingredients include Ivermectin and Pyrantel Pamoate. The Heartgard Plus Ivermectin Pyrantel tablets offer protection against heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms.
Unfortunately, Heartgard Plus doesn't offer protection against tapeworms. For tapeworms, you'll need another prescription drug called Praziquantel.
Does Heartgard Plus Kill Roundworms?
Yes, Heartgard Plus kills roundworms and offers protection against health issues caused by these worms. The Heartgard Plus medicine is effective against two species of roundworms and three species of hookworms.
It's essential to safeguard your dog against roundworms as a single roundworm can lay up to 1,00,000 eggs in a single day in the intestines of infected dogs and cause weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, malnutrition, and weakness.
What Is the Difference Between Heartgard and Heartgard Plus?
While Heartgard Plus and Heartgard for dogs may sound similar, there is a fundamental difference between the two. While Heartgard offers protection against heartworm disease alone, Heartgard Plus tablets are effective against three types of worms, including heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm.
The Heartgard Plus is the better option among the two as it offers wider protection against diseases. But, on the other hand, Heartgard medication is ideal for dogs that are already fighting heartworm disease and need a concentrated dose.
How Long Does Heartgard Plus Last?
Most heartworm preventive medications like Heartgard Plus require monthly administration. Monthly preventives like Heartgard and Heartgard Plus don't stay in your dog's bloodstream for over 30 days. The active ingredients in the medication work to eliminate any larvae that must have been in the system for the last 30 days, clearing the body each month. The main reason the medication is only needed once a month is that it takes more than a month for larvae to grow enough to infect body tissues.
What Is the Difference Between Heartgard and Tri-Heart Plus?
Heartgard and Tri-Heart Plus are two different medications with the same purpose. The only difference between the two is that Heartgard Plus is a soft beefy chew, whereas Tri-Heart Plus is a chewable, beef-flavored tablet.
It may surprise you to know that these two most popular medications for dogs are more alike than they are different. Both Heartgard Plus and Tri-Heart Plus have Pyrantel Pamoate and Ivermectin to prevent heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
These chews are both prescription medicines safe for pregnant or breeding dogs and puppies over six weeks of age.
How Often Do You Give Heartgard Plus?
Because heartworm and other larvae take at least 30 days to reach the stage where they penetrate body tissues, Heartgard Plus is administered monthly.
There are two kinds of heartworm preventives - monthly preventives administered orally and injectable preventives requiring dosage every six or 12 months. Either type is fine as long as you adhere strictly to the schedule.
Can a Dog Overdose on Heartgard Plus?
Yes, if your dog consumes 10-20 times more than the recommended dosage, there is a high risk of overdosing. The Heartgard Plus medication is recommended to administer every month at a recommended minimum dosage of 6 mcg of ivermectin and 5 mg of pyrantel per kilogram of the body weight.
In the case of overdose, you may see symptoms like lethargy, depression, vomiting, dilated pupils, disorientation, loss of appetite, blindness, and coma, among others. Always consult your vet and get a prescription for recommended dosage before administering Heartgard Plus to your dog.
Can You Cut Heartgard Plus in Half?
According to Merial, the Heartgard Plus manufacturer, it's not recommended to cut or split the Heartgard Plus to halve the dosage. This is because the active ingredient is not spread evenly throughout the tablet. The company doesn't guarantee the effectiveness of the medicines if the dose is split. It's best to get the right size tablets for your dogs from your vet.
Concluding Thoughts
The most important thing that you should know about Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs is that it is the top choice preventative against the dangerous heartworm disease in which it gives your dog a layer of protection from stomach worm infestations for 30 days. Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs will improve your dog's quality of life.
DISCLAIMER: FDA law restricts Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs only on order or prescription of a licensed veterinarian for the best pet health care advice. Ask your veterinarian or consult with one of our pet care specialists at 1-800-844-1427. This informative article is not meant to substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, and professional advice from your veterinarian or other qualified professionals regarding a medical condition. Ask your veterinarian if it's a good idea to treat all of the animals in your household to control a home flea infestation.