Heartworm preventative measures include the drugs Ivermectin, Milbemycin, and Selamectin, and in all cases it is much better to use heart worm protection for dogs rather than cure the infestation once established. Once your pet contracts heart worms the treatments used take a long time and also may involve surgery. Treating existing infections is very expensive, even if you carry insurance, so you’ll want to stay ahead of the chance of heartworm happening to your pet’s health by using some form of heartworm protection.
Many brands of heartworm medications are available for you to choose from. Be aware that heartworm treatment medications differ from the heartworm prevention medications.
Traditionally, arsenic compounds were used for heartworm control once the infection had taken hold, but many cats and some dogs suffered from pulmonary problems several days after the treatment, so generally these arsenic compounds are avoided in cat treatment.
When using a weaker form of heartworm protection, you can expect the treatment to last 18 months, which is not acceptable except in a few cases.
Like any other medicine, heart worm medication can be difficult to administer, especially if you are dealing with another species who dont understand you are trying to help them. Often, heartworm pills are not one of dogs’ favorite tastes, so luckily companies such as Merial who make Heartgard canine heartworm prevention manufacture chewable Heartgard Plus in beef flavor.
Unfortunately for heartworms, Heartgard has been proven to be an effective treatment. In addition to preventing heartworm, this medicine also protects your pet from roundworms.
The Revolution program flea control tackles heart worm disease and many other parasites, but if your goal is simply to get rid of fleas, you may find Advantage for dogs to be a better option. Advantage flea control does not protect against heartworm, while Revolution does.
To simplify matters, Sentinel heartworm treatment is an all-in-one solution, protecting your pet from heartworm, fleas, roundworms and other parasites. Two products available today, Revolution or Sentinel, protect your pet from heartworm as well as from fleas. Don’t forget to add flea protection to the mix, as most canine heartworm protection does not have this protection.
