Choose the Best Heartworm Meds for Your Dog
Heartworm disease can be devastating for dogs and dog owners. At DogGear, we take diseases like this very seriously and have compiled hundreds of hours researching the best heartworm medications for dogs as a result. Here are some of the best heartworm medication for dogs in 2021.
Best Heartworm Medication for Dogs
Bayer Chewable Quad Dewormer
– Expert Choice
K9 Advantix acts as a mosquito repellent for dogs, which gives them a much higher likelihood of never getting heartworm disease. Within 12-24 hours of applying this topical medication, your dog should be free of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. But as effective as it is in preventing mosquitoes from landing on your dog, it shouldn’t be used in place of a regular heartworm prevention medication.
- We wish this was a combined medication for those purposes, but separate medications are needed.
Triple Medium and Large Dog Wormer
– Contender
This is one of the best dewormers we’ve tried. It is known for working quickly in a matter of hours, and leaving the dog happy and healthy long afterward.
Excel Products
– Bargain
The product consists of granules to mix into your dog’s regular food, and you must provide doses to your dog in three consecutive days for it to work effectively. Since the product is very reasonably priced, is easy to administer and only needs to be repeated every six months. We think this is one of the best bargains you can find.
SENTRY PET CARE De-Wormer
– Also Consider
This is a great choice for small dogs. It kills 7 strains of tapeworm, hookworm and ringworm in just one month. These treats work by killing seven strains of tapeworm, hookworm and ringworm in just one month. They’re also very effective at preventing heartworm disease (the most common form of canine heartworm infection) as well as helping prevent flea infestation. A little goes a long way toward making sure your pup stays
These pills are effective in killing adult worms, as well as larvae in eggs. The tablets come in a 2-pack and are easy to take and administer.
Best Heartworm Medication Buying Guide
Heartworms are worms that live in the small intestine of dogs that cause them to become infested with the microorganism.
Symptoms of heartworm disease vary depending on the species of dog and include fatigue, weight loss, fatigue-related diarrhea, and weight gain. Because these illnesses are so serious, they are treated with medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
Treatment usually consists of taking the worms out of the dog’s system with a special kind of medication called a live intestinal parasite blocker. While heartworms can be eliminated with proper medication, there is no way around them.
So, if your dog is showing any of these symptoms, you need to take action. We're here to help.
Heartworm Medication for Dogs Tips
There are several circumstances under which a pet owner may need to take medication for heartworm disease. If your dog ingests a large amount of medication in a short period of time, it could cause vomiting or diarrhea.
Your pet could become hypoglycemic. You might need a dose of an insulin medicine (insulin gluconate or insulin). You could suffer an anaphylactic reaction to an injection of a heart-worm medication. It’s important to follow the instructions on the package of the medication you are taking for your pet.
The label should tell you exactly how long to give the medicine to your animal and when to stop taking it. Some pets might become sick if they take heartworms and medicines together.
Always supervise your pets when they're taking any medication to avoid causing them to become ill.
Heartworm Medication for Dogs Considerations
There are many heartworm preventive medications available to pet owners, and you will have a hard time choosing if you have more than one. In order to help you narrow your choices, we’ve listed some heartworms medications that are effective against the parasite.
For dogs with a high risk of heart failure, doxycycline is the best choice. If you are taking oral medications, azole is an effective medication for heart worm prevention. However, you should follow package directions to ensure that the dosage is not harmful to your pet‘s kidneys.
Lopinavir/ritonavir is also an FDA-approved medication that can prevent heart worms from multiplying and multiplying again.
This medication works by blocking the protein that prevents the worm from replicating. It is available in oral and injectable forms.
Heartworm Medication for Dogs Prices
Heartworm medication for your dog is one of the pricier options you’ll find, but that's not because it‘s a difficult product to find. In fact, it can be one the least expensive options available.
Heartworm treatments for pets start at around $300 and go up to $1,000 per treatment. While there are prescription medications available, online pharmacies have become a popular alternative for pet owners who don't have the time or inclination to visit a veterinarian for a more in-depth examination.
Because you can purchase the medication over the counter, you wont be surprised to learn that you only need to pay for the first prescription within the pharmacy s plan of payment.
A pet owner s health insurance plan may cover the cost of this medication, as may some veterinarians who practice in your area. To find the right balance between cost and convenience, start by determining the type and number of pills prescribed to your pet.
Then, compare prices against the number and type of dogs you regularly see.
Best Heartworm Treatments for Dogs Buying Features
Heart worm treats are pretty much a luxury item for most pet owners. However, you can't just go around buying the cheapest brands out there. This is because there are a few different brands on the market, and not all of them are effective.
We‘ve done some research to find the best heart worm treatments on offer.
Reviews
Online pet shoppers love to see honest opinions from customers. Thats why we check out customer reviews before we write our Buys & Reviews. Our selection of heartworm treats is chosen based on customer feedback.
Price
Price is another important factor to consider. Some pet lovers go all out to buy the most expensive heartworms treats possible. While we understand this is a bit of a splurge, it can still be beneficial to your dog s health if you do so. Because heart worms can be fatal if left untreated, pet insurance will cover the cost of treatments for a minimum of two years.
Of course, this will increase with repeated treatment.
Features To Look For In Heart Worm Treatings For Dogs Ingredients
One of the main reasons pet users go for heart infections in the first place is the presence of parasites. Therefore, when looking for the perfect heart worming treatment, make sure to look out for ingredients that your pet is likely to be allergic to. Also, heart beat stimulants should be avoided because they could potentially be harmful to the heart.
Amount
How much heart fortification do you require? The recommended dosage of most heart stimulant treatments is around 100mcg per day, however, some brands recommend taking twice that amount. You should also make your decision based upon your veterinarian s advice. Heart disease can often have a genetic component, which is why it's important to check with your vet to make certain you aren't allergic.
Dosage
The dosage for this type of medication is usually given in divided doses, but some formulas don't allow you to split them up, so make a choice based entirely on dosage rather than frequency of use. Dogs with heart problems usually require a higher dosage than most people, even if the symptoms don't appear until years after the initial infection.
Different Types Of Treatment Heart worms are known to cause different symptoms in different dogs. There are also different types of treatment to choose from. The two main types are the injectable and the subcutaneous.
Injectable
Injected heart treatments are often administered via a syringe. They come in a graduated dose and are most effective when used within a short period after an initial heart infection has taken hold.
Subcutaneously
This type is also known as the patella paccule. It is delivered submersion in warm water and is one of dogs‒ most preferred treatments.
About Heartworm Medications for Dogs
Heartworm prevention is a lifelong commitment. You can help your dog live a long and healthy life by taking care of him. When your pet ingests an infected worm, it can cause a reaction in the liver, pancreas, and other organs. This can lead to the death of your beloved pet if not treated right away.
Fortunately, you have many options to help you get the right heartworm medication for your four-legged friend.
Read our shopping guide below to learn more about heartworms and how to choose the most appropriate medication.
Heartworm Treatment FAQ
A: Yes, these medications do work. While it’s not a miracle cure, you can lessen the impact of heartworms by treating the worms and the parasites that feed on them.
A: The most efficient treatment is injectable medication. It should be given at the time of infection, and it can be purchased online. In most cases, the best treatment lasts for a minimum of six months. If not, then monthly injections are usually recommended.
A: Sometimes, yes. This depends on the type of the heart-worm, but there are other factors that can make it more likely that they will spread to your pet‘s surroundings. Parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, Diphyllobothrium vulgare, Cestodea melilensis, Rhinophthora cestarii, pacificus aberrante, Pervasive venereal worm, Myxomelanoma venefica, Parvovirus type 4 and 5 are all highly contagious and can easily be transferred from one pet to another through sharing food or water, sharing toys, handling, or even touching surfaces or objects that have come in contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected animal. Also, pets with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to contracting the parasite. Therefore, it is very important to keep your pets healthy and to take them for regular heart and liver screenings.
