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Every pet has needs and can be pampered, but health care is a fundamental requirement for each. The prevention of hearworms in your dog or cat certainly fits that category.

Heartworm medicine is critical to preventing your animal from contracting heartworm, particularly in areas rife with mosquitoes, the insects responsible for carrying the disease. To find out more about heartworm prevention drugs, including how to administer them and possible side effects, read on.

Brands of Heartworm Medications

The pills approved for heartworm prevention in the U.S. are milbemycin (sold under the brand Interceptor and Sentinel), ivermectin (sold as Heartgard and as a generic drug), and moxidectin (sold as ProHeart). All these are typically sold in chewable or pill form.

In countries like Australia, Canada, Japan and Korea, pet owners can buy ProHeart 6 or ProHeart 12 - these are injections that are administered by a veterinarian and will last for 6 to 12 months. The injectable form of moxidectin is not approved for use in the U.S.

For cats, heartworm prevention medicine is available as milbemycin (also sold as Interceptor for cats), ivermectin (sold as Heartgard for felines) and selamectin (sold as Revolution for Cats), which is a topical cream.

How Effective is Heartworm Medicine?

Preventive heartworm drugs are very effective and when regularly administered will protect more than 99% of cats and dogs from heartworm infection.

Usually, if a heartworm medication fails, it is because of pet owner error - the person did not administer the heartworm pills on schedule or did so incorrectly. That said, the monthly doses are fairly effective, so if a month is missed, most animals are still protected as long as the next two month’s doses are administered on time.

How to Use Heartworm Medication

You should start your heartworm drug regimen at least a month before mosquito season begins. Then, the monthly treatment should continue through mosquito season and for a month afterward. Of course, ask your veterinarian for guidance and medical advice.

In tropical and sub-tropical climates with year-round mosquito activity, most veterinarians recommend that animals take heartworm prevention drugs throughout the entire year. Some also recommend it for colder regions, but it’s not typically necessary unless you plan to travel with your pet.

Most heartworm drugs are available as chewable tablets. For pets that don’t like taking pills, veterinarians often recommend hiding the pills in their food.

Possible Side Effects

Side effects for most heartworm drugs are rare, but this may be because it is difficult to diagnose unapparent side effects or impacts that aren’t obvious. Remember, your dog can’t tell you that he’s having a headache.

However, higher doses of heartworm medicine can cause diarrhea, tremors, weight loss, vomiting and possibly death. It’s important to never give your pet a double dose and to keep your heartworm medication safely out of reach of both your pet and your children.