Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a serious illness that can rob your dog of its health and even its life. Note: Heartworm disease affects both dogs and cats, but Heartgard Plus is for dogs and Heartgard is for cats. Heartgard Plus contains ivermectin and pyrantel and Heartgard only contains ivermectin. Heartworm disease is often fatal in cats because there is no treatment once a cat is infected, so prevention is crucial.
Heartworm larvae are transmitted by infected mosquitoes that bite the dog and deposit heartworm larvae on the dog's skin. The larvae migrate through the tissue and into the bloodstream of the dog where they continue developing. By the time clinical signs of heartworm disease appear, the disease can already be in its advanced stages.
Heartworms spend their adult lives in the right side of the heart and the large blood vessels that connect the heart to the lungs. The adult worms block the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs, liver, and kidneys and can grow up to 12 inches long.
Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50
About Heartworm Disease and Your Dog
Your dog deserves protection against heartworms - and it's easy to do.
Heartworm disease can affect dogs anywhere. The disease has spread to every corner of the
How can heartworm disease be prevented?
Pet owners can use Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), the #1 veterinarian-recommended preventive available for dogs to help prevent heartworm disease. In an unprotected dog, heartworm larvae, transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito, mature and migrate to the heart. Year-round treatment is recommended by the American Heartworm Society and the Companion Animal Parasite Council.
Why shouldn't I wait and see if my dog develops heartworm disease? Can't my veterinarian just treat it?
It's important to understand that heartworm disease has usually reached an advanced stage by the time your dog shows signs of illness, and it is possible that the dog may never show signs of an infection. Treatment is risky, expensive, and may not be effective. The approved treatment involves the use of a product containing arsenic, your dog will be kept inactive during treatment, and you will have to keep your dog inactive for weeks afterward – and despite these measures, treatment may not be successful.
Heartworm Transmission
How does my dog get heartworms?
Learning about how heartworms are transmitted will help you understand why it is important to protect your dog from becoming infected.
1. A mosquito bites an animal that is already infected and ingests immature heartworms, called microfilariae, circulating in the animal's blood. The mosquito becomes infected. The microfilariae develop to the next stage and become larvae.
2. An uninfected puppy or adult dog is infected by larvae deposited by a bite from the infected mosquito. The American Heartworm Society reports that virtually 100% of dogs exposed to infective larvae become infected.
3. In dogs without heartworm protection, the heartworm larvae continue to mature and develop, migrating through the tissues and reaching the heart and pulmonary arteries. Larvae become adult heartworms within 6 months of infection.
4. Adult heartworms grow up to 12 inches long and reproduce. Infected dogs infect more mosquitoes, which can then infect additional dogs.
Signs of Heartworm Disease in Dogs
No amount of love can detect heartworm disease.
Heartworms mature and can live unnoticed in infected dogs. An unprotected dog is at risk for infection, even as you love, play with, and care for it.
Signs of heartworm disease in dogs can be subtle and difficult to detect in the early stages. As the disease progresses and damages the heart, lungs, or kidneys, signs begin to appear. The disease can become severe and even fatal.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice these signs in your dog:
Signs
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Sluggishness
- Less energy for exercise
- Reduced appetite and weight loss
Testing for the presence of heartworms.
Dogs and puppies should be tested for heartworm infection prior to beginning a heartworm disease prevention program. The American Heartworm Society and Companion Animal Parasite Council highly recommend annual testing for heartworm to ensure that your dog is free of heartworm infection, and it is likely that your veterinarian will test your dog according to established guidelines. Annual testing can help reassure that your dog has the heartworm prevention it needs.
Heartworm Disease Prevention versus Treatment
Prevention is safer, easier, and far more economical.
Heartworm disease treatment can be dangerous for your dog and stressful for your family.
- The approved treatment for heartworm disease involves use of a product containing arsenic.
- Treatment can be lengthy and costly.
- Treatment typically requires hospitalization of the dog at the veterinary clinic followed by an extended period of inactivity at home.
Eliminating adult heartworms can pose serious risks to dogs because arteries may have been damaged by heartworm-related lesions and obstructed by worms that have been killed to treat the disease.
Complexity and risks associated with eliminating heartworm disease in dogs are influenced by the dog's overall health, the extent of the worm population, and degree of damage that has resulted from the presence of heartworms. More than one round of treatment may be required in some cases.
If your dog has not been tested for the presence of heartworms, your veterinarian can perform the appropriate testing.
Prevention is the sensible choice.
It's easy to see that treatment for heartworm infection can be risky and expensive. It's also easy to help protect your dog with a monthly dose of Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel). When given monthly, as directed, Heartgard Plus is effective in helping to prevent heartworm disease in dogs.
Roundworms and Hookworms
Roundworms and hookworms are two common internal parasites found in dogs. Fortunately, roundworms and hookworms can be treated and controlled by administering Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) as directed.
Roundworms
What are roundworms and how can they affect dogs?
Roundworms are among the most common internal parasites of domestic animals. In fact, a type of roundworm called Toxocara canis infects more than 90% of puppies under 3 months of age and roundworm eggs can be found in 15% of all dogs. The roundworm Toxascaris leonina is found in adult dogs.
Dogs become infected with roundworms through the placenta, nursing, or contact with feces of an infected animal. In dogs, adult roundworms live in the intestines and a large population can block the intestinal tract.
Signs of roundworm infection in dogs include: diarrhea, weight loss, worms in feces, swollen abdomen, vomiting, malnutrition, weakness and lack of appetite.
Hookworms
What are hookworms and how can they affect dogs?
Like roundworms, hookworms are internal parasites. Infections of the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum have been shown to be present in nearly 20% of dogs. Two other types of hookworms are also found in dogs.
Dogs become infected with hookworms by ingesting larvae in contaminated soil. The larvae can penetrate skin. Puppies can acquire infection via nursing.
Hookworms inhabit the intestine and feed on certain intestinal tissue, resulting in blood loss and inflammation. This in turn may lead to anemia, debilitation, and death, particularly in puppies.
Signs of hookworm infection in dogs include: weakness, diarrhea, pale gums, and weight loss.
Treatment and Control of Roundworms and Hookworms
Treating your dog with Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) as directed can eliminate pre-existing populations of roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina) and hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma braziliense) and reduce the incidence of re-infection by these parasites.
Heartgard Plus is approved for use in puppies as young as 6 weeks of age. Monthly administration can reduce the risk of re-infection by reducing the burden of roundworm eggs and hookworm larvae in your dog's environment.
Your New Dog
Whether you've brought home a puppy or have adopted an older dog, you want to do everything possible to keep the new arrival healthy and happy. Start with a visit to a veterinarian for a checkup. Remember to ask about testing for heartworm and internal parasites, and talk with your veterinarian about Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) to help prevent heartworm disease and treatment and control of roundworms and hookworms.
Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel): General Information
Heartworms can infect your dog without you knowing it. The best way to protect your dog is to prevent heartworm disease – the risk, expense, and emotional toll of treatment are significant.
Heartgard Plus helps prevent canine heartworm disease, and treats and controls roundworms and hookworms, too.
- Heartgard Plus is the veterinarian's #1 choice for heartworm disease prevention in dogs.
- Heartgard Plus used monthly as directed can help prevent heartworm infection in your dog – and can help your dog avoid the risk, stress, and long periods of confinement that go along with treatment for canine heartworm disease.
- Heartgard Plus is made with real beef – dogs love the taste.
- Heartgard Plus is a convenient, easy-to-give Chewable that most dogs will eat right out of your hand.
- Heartgard Plus is available in three dosage strengths for dogs of different weights. Your veterinarian will select the dosage that's right for your dog.
- Heartgard Plus has a wide margin of safety for dogs of all breeds and sizes when used as directed. It is approved for puppies as young as 6 weeks, pregnant or breeding female dogs, and stud dogs.
- Heartgard Plus is available only through a licensed veterinarian, so make an appointment for your pet today.
- Heartgard Plus: Easy to Give. Protection to Live.
How Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) Works
When given monthly as directed, Heartgard Plus is effective in helping to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. Each bite from an infected mosquito can introduce new heartworm larvae into your dog's bloodstream and reinfect an unprotected dog. Use of Heartgard Plus every month as directed kills immature heartworms introduced to the dog in the last 30 days, preventing the development of adult heartworms.
Heartgard Plus also kills canine roundworms and hookworms in the dog's intestinal tract.
Heartgard Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) FAQs
What is heartworm disease?
Heartworm disease in dogs (dirofilariasis) is a serious and potentially fatal disease. Heartworms spend their adult lives in the right side of the heart and the large blood vessels that connect the heart to the lungs. The adult worms block the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
How do dogs get heartworms?
Heartworms are transmitted from one dog to another by mosquitoes, which pick up tiny immature heartworms, called microfilariae, when they bite an infected dog. Larvae develop and are then transmitted to another dog when that dog is bitten by the infected mosquito.
Where are dogs at risk for heartworm infection?
All dogs are at risk for heartworm disease, no matter where they live – heartworms don't discriminate based on geography. In the past, heartworm disease in the United States was primarily limited to the south and southeast regions. However, it is now found in all 50 states, in Canada, and worldwide, and is spreading to new areas each year. The American Heartworm Society notes that uncared-for dogs and certain wildlife can be carriers of heartworms. Mosquitoes blown great distances by the wind and the transportation of infected pets to different geographic locations can all contribute to the spread of heartworm disease.
What are the signs of heartworm infection?
Signs of heartworm disease can be subtle and difficult to detect until its later stages. As the disease progresses, signs begin to appear. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice coughing, difficulty breathing, sluggishness and less energy for exercise in your dog. Adult heartworms cause serious harm to your dog's heart, lungs and certain internal organs. Left untreated, heartworm disease can result in loss of consciousness and death.
How are dogs tested for heartworm infection?
The most common method for heartworm testing is for a veterinarian to collect a small blood sample from a dog and evaluate the sample using a specialized test kit that identifies the heartworm antigen. Or, your veterinarian may use other types of tests that detect the presence of microscopic microfilariae, an early stage in the heartworm life cycle.
How can heartworm disease in dogs be prevented?
Pet owners can use Heargard Plus, the #1 veterinarian-recommended preventive on the market to help prevent heartworm disease. Heartgard Plus kills tissue larval stages of heartworms and helps prevent them from developing into adults and causing heartworm disease. In an unprotected dog, heartworm larvae that are transmitted by an infected, biting mosquito mature and ultimately migrate to the heart and important arteries.
How long do I have to give my dog Heartgard Plus?
Monthly use of Heartgard Plus is essential because it cannot be determined with certainty when the threat of mosquitoes has passed. Talk to your veterinarian for dose and regiment recommendations.
Can heartworm disease be treated?
Although it is possible to treat heartworm disease if a dog becomes infected, it is difficult, expensive and risky, particularly in dogs that have begun to exhibit clinical signs of infection.
What if my dog becomes infected with heartworms?
There are treatment options available to eliminate adult heartworms in dogs that have become infected. Treating dogs with heartworm disease starts with a thorough physical examination by the veterinarian. The veterinarian will then discuss treatment options with you. Typically, the dog is hospitalized during the treatment period. Because there is a risk of blood clots or worm debris blocking blood vessels from adult heartworm treatment, the dog must then remain quiet in close confinement for another 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. A second round of treatment may be required for some dogs. The veterinarian may also give your dog a treatment to rid it of the immature larvae that are circulating through the blood stream.
Is Heartgard Plus safe to use in any breed of dog?
Heartgard Plus is safe and effective in any breed of dog when used as directed.
Can my dog “get” heartworm disease directly from an infected dog?
No, the way dogs become infected is via a bite from a mosquito that is carrying heartworm larvae.
Are nursing puppies immune to heartworm disease if the mother is receiving Heartgard Plus?
No. Puppies that are nursing may become infected. Heartgard Plus can be used in puppies as young as six weeks of age – and puppies benefit from the ability of Heartgard Plus to treat and control roundworms and hookworms.
For more information, visit http://heartgard.us.merial.com/index.asp
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