Top Five Heartworm Preventive Treatments
By Eugene Hix
Dogs are prone to various diseases, but the most dangerous disease that threatens their life is Heartworm infection. It is usually transmitted by mosquitoes among animals. This happens when a mosquito bites an infected animal. The immature form of the parasite enters the insect body without affecting it. When the infected mosquito sucks blood from another host, the microfilariae are transmitted to the skin of the healthy animal and stay in the tissue until they grow in size. When they grow up, they enter into the blood stream, and will travel to reach the right chambers of the heart of an animal. This whole process takes around 6 to 9 months into which the immature stages develop into adults. Overtime they multiply and severely damage blood vessels and adversely affect the heart. When no preventives are given to a dog, this can be fatal. Therefore, vets recommend pet parents to keep their pets on monthly preventive treatments to protect the furry pals from this dreadful disease.
In the recent years, much of the awareness has been spread regarding this disease and the treatments that help protect them from this dreadful infection. Many preventives are available in the market, but there are these pet products, which are highly popular and effective in controlling this infection in pets. Moreover, there are a few of them that also treat intestinal worms along with heartworms and provides broad spectrum protection for your pet.
Let us find in detail each of the top five pet medications that are helpful in preventing this disease in dogs.
Heartgard Plus
Among the numerous pet medications that prevent heartworm disease, Heartgard Plus is the most popular and highly recommended treatment by vets. This oral preventive kills the larvae transferred by mosquito bites, and controls them from developing into adult forms. When given to your dog every month, it helps to fight against infection and protects your pet from the disease.
Moreover, Heartgard Plus not only protects from the deadly disease, but also kills other worms such as hookworms and roundworms.
Nuheart
Nuheart is the generic version of Heartgard Plus and has the same effect. Developed with the same ingredient as heartgard plus, this preventive helps control heartworms in canines. As it comes in meat-flavour, it is readily accepted even by the fussiest dogs. Its active ingredient destroys the juvenile stage that infects the dog during the previous month. The oral tabs prevent the dangerous disease caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria Immitis in dogs.
Given monthly, it helps in safeguarding pets from the risk of infection without any side effects. It can be given to puppies as young as 6 weeks of age. Added to many of its specialities, Nuheart is an affordable treatment with the same impact of costly prevention treatment.
Valuheart
It is a popular generic preventive that works same as the patented Heartgard Plus. It effectively removes the larvae from an infected dog and prevents re-infestation. When given as a preventive on a monthly basis, this oral treatment controls heartworm parasites from attacking dogs and shields them from fatal the infection. This generic medication is safe to use in pregnant and breeding dogs. Valuheart is suitable for all breeds of dogs and sizes of dogs.
Interceptor Spectrum
Also known as just Interceptor, this is a tasty chew that also treats gastrointestinal worms. With the power of the broad-spectrum treatment, it destroys various intestinal worms including whipworm, roundworm, tapeworm and hookworm. The anthelmintic and antiparasitic effect treats a different variety of worms apart from destroying immature larvae of heartworm.
The active ingredients of Interceptor Spectrum work inside the dog body to destroy the parasites and eliminate them from the body through the natural mechanism. The oral treatment is safe for puppies 2 weeks of age and above. The flavoured chew is easy to administer and protects against infection for full one month.
Sentinel
Also known as Sentinel Spectrum in some parts of the globe, these tasty chews are highly effective in treating various parasites. This multi-spectrum treatment prevents infection by eliminating larvae in their early stages. It treats various intestinal worms including adult hookworms, roundworms and whipworms. The oral tabs also kill adult fleas and break their life cycle.
The monthly dosage helps to protect pets from numerous parasites. The added benefit of this heartwormer is that it prevents other diseases also like flea infected diseases and intestinal worm infections. This broad spectrum chew should be given monthly for overall protection.
Studying the numerous heartworm treatments for dogs, I have briefed here the top products that most of the vets recommend for control and prevention of heartworms. Working at renowned pet supplies company; I have analysed and studied hundreds of pet health products.
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