Heartworm Prevention

This is the complete buyers guide to heartworm prevention for dogs and puppies. There are many heartworm prevention methods available and it can be quite confusing choosing the best option for you, as there is no one size fits all approach to it. We will cover the different methods and products that treat heartworm in dogs. We will show you the yearly cost of each treatment so you can best decide what will suit you and your dog best. Heartworm prevention is very important, as if your dog or puppy gets heartworm disease it can be life threatening.

Methods of Preventing Heartworm in Dogs

  • Yearly Injection from vet: A yearly heartworm injection from your vet is a very popular way to treat for heartworm, as it is simple because you only need to have it done once a year, in which time they will usually get a general check up as well. Price of the injection will vary from vet to vet.
  • Monthly Tablet: You should have your dog tested to make sure they don't have heartworm before you use this type of treatment. It can be deadly to give this to a dog that already has heartworm. Once you have got the simple test done and your dog does not have heartworm you are free to use this treatment, but should keep up with treatment monthly so they are not exposed to getting heartworm. In Australia they sell the same monthly heartworm tablets without a prescription in vets as well as retail pet store, which people in the United States often order as it is cheaper due to not having the extra rx prescription costs. These usually comes as heartworm & worming tablets or flea, heartworm and worming tablets.
  • Monthly Topical drop: Topical monthly solutions for heartworm work similar to heartworm tablets. To use a topical medication you will squirt it onto the dogs skin, between there shoulder blades. These are also a prescription medicine in the United States and non prescription in Australia. You should have your dog tested for heartworm by your vet before using any topical heartworm prevention product. Topical solutions will come as flea & heartworm or flea, heartworm & worming.

    Dog Heartworm Prevention Products

    Tablets for Heartworm Prevention


        • Heartgard Plus 30 for dogs containing ivermectin and pyrantel produced by Merial. These are a beef flavored chewable tablet which treats dogs for heartworm, roundworms and hookworms. These are to be given as a monthly dose. They can be given to a puppy from 6 weeks of age, and are also safe to use on all breeds, as well as breeding bitches and stud dogs. Your dog should be tested for heartworm by a vet before giving them Heartgard Plus.
        • Interceptor Spectrum for dogs containing milbemycin and praziquantel produced by Novartis Animal Health. These are monthly chewable tablets that treat for heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm. These can be used on puppies from 2 weeks of age. Your dog should be tested by your vet to make sure he is clear of heartworm before using Interceptor.
        • Sentinel Spectrum for dogs containing milbemycin, lufenuron and praziquantel produced by Novartis Animal Health. These are a montly chewable tablets that treat for heartworm, roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, tapeworm, fleas and flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs should be tested and clear of heartworm before treating with Sentinel. It can be used on puppies from 6 weeks of age and should always be given with a full meal.
        • Panoramis for dogs containing spinosad and milbemycin oxime produced by Elanco. These are monthly chewable tablets that treat for fleas, flea allergy dermatitis, heartworm, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm. Panoramis is known as Trifexis in the United States, both are the same product with the same dosage amount. Panormais needs no prescription and Trifexis does need a prescription. Before using Panoramis you should have your dog tested for heartworms. Panoramis can be used on puppies from 8 weeks of age.
        • Valueheart for dogs uses Ivermectin to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. It is an afforable tablet that comes in sizes for small, medium and large dogs.
        • Nuheart for dogs is a meat flavored water soluble heartworm prevention tablet. It uses Ivermection to prevent heartworm disease in dogs.


    Topical Treatments for Heartworm Prevention


        • Revolution for dogs containing selamectin is produced by Pfizer. This is a topical medication that treats for adult flea, flea eggs, flea larvae, heartworms,ear mites and sarcoptic mites. You can use Revolution on puppies from 8 weeks of age. Your dog should be tested and cleared of heartworm before using Revolution.
        • Advocate for dogs containing imidacloprid and moxidectin, produced by Bayer. Advocate is known as Advantage Multi in the United States. The Advocate product sold in Australia is non prescription and Advantage Multi sold in the USA needs a prescription, although they are the exact same product the vet prescription laws in the United States are more strict. Advocate is a monthly topical medicine that treats for fleas, flea larvae, heartworms, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, intestinal worm larvae, demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, ear mites and lice. Advocate can be used on puppies from 8 weeks of age. You should have your dog tested and cleared of heartworm before using this product.

    Dog Heartworm Buyers Guide Conclusion

        If you are just looking for a heartworm prevention on its own we would recommend using Nuheart for dogs as it is the cheapest and as effective as more expensive brands. The most complete treatment is Sentinel Spectrum. Sentinel treats for flea infestations, heartworm and intestinal worms including tapeworm. No other treatment is avaialble that will treat all of these areas in one tablet. Now you have all the info on all the heartworm treatments you should be able to make a better decision in deciding which one will suit you and your dog best.