HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) Heartworm Disease Preventative Chewables for Dogs vs. Heartgard Chewables for Cats Comparison

HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) Heartworm Disease Preventative Chewables for Dogs

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Heartgard Chewables for Cats

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Revolution Plus for Cats

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Prevents Heartworm Disease

Roundworms

Hookworms

Whipworms

Tapeworms

Fleas

Other Parasites

Kills 3 species of ticks commonly found in cats, and treats and controls ear mites.

Safe for Breeding, Pregnant or Nursing Pets

Has shown a wide margin of safety at the recommended dose level in dogs, including pregnant or breeding bitches, stud dogs and puppies aged 6 or more weeks.

A wide margin of safety has been demonstrated at 3 times the recommended dose in pregnant or breeding queens and breeding toms.

N/A

Age/Weight Requirements

6 weeks of age or older and no weight requirement

8 weeks of age or older, weighing at least 2.8 lbs

Rx Prescription Required

Dosage

Monthly

Usage

Video

Coming soon

Veterinarian Review (Michael Dym, VMD)

In my experience and opinion, the main ingredient ivermectin in this once monthly heartworm preventative is the most effective preventative for canine heartworm. Under veterinary supervision, it can even be an alternative TREATMENT in treating active heartworm infections when used monthly in those dogs who are either too old for the expensive conventional immiticide drug treatment, or where risks of immiticide treatment outweigh the benefits. This should be discussed with your pets veterinarian. Pets can often clear heartworm infection after 12-24 months of consecutive use, again best done under veterinary guidance. With its other main ingredient, pyrantel, heartguard plus is the most effective preventative in controlling/treating/preventing roundworm and hookworm infection in dogs. Dogs also seem to prefer the taste of this beef flavored chewable tablet. The main disadvantage is of this product is in those situations where pets have tested positive for whipworms on stool checks. This preventative does NOT prevent or control whipworm infections, which can cause inflammation of the colon/diarrhea, and be difficult to control in affected dogs.

Currently under review

A significant limitation of the original revolution product for cats is that it did not cover any species of ticks, which is especially important in those cats who go outside and/or live with dogs where there is increased chance of tick borne infections such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis in dogs, not to mention the risk of tick born disease exposure in people whose cats bring ticks in to the home. With this new formulation clients get protection against 3 species of ticks. The American Heartworm Society has published that one in 4 cats diagnosed with heartworm disease are indoor only cats, so that especially in Southern, warmer clients, heartworm disease prevention may become as important in cats as dogs. And it takes only a few heartworms to cause significant disease in cats, who seem much more sensitive on exposure to this parasite than even dogs are. This versatile product not only kills fleas before they eggs, but gives additional 6 in 1 protection again ticks, round worms, hookworms, as well as ear mites. THe product is quite quick drying, easy to apply, and not messy or greasy like many other topical formulations. The only down side as to efficacy is in those cases where there is a severe flea infestation affecting multiple animals in a household, where I have found some of the other products a bit more effective in those cases in both dogs and cats, however the vast majority of flea infestations are easily taken care of with this product. Because of the addition of the Sarolamer ingredient for tick control, I would not use this product if there is any history of neurological disease or seizures in the cat. The only other rare side effect I have seen is lethargy and because of its easy to use formulation, only very rare contact sensitivity. With all this being said, I give this product an overall rating of a 4 out of 5 with an ease of application of 5.

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