Heartgard and Generic Heartworm Medicines

As any pet owner knows, heartworm disease is a serious condition that is rather easily prevented, but very difficult to successfully treat. For this reason, veterinarians recommend that all dogs be regularly treated with heartworm medicine to ward off the dangers of being unprotected, and in some locations this may require year-round treatment.

Buying medication every month, especially if you have more than one pet, can soon become quite an expense, leaving pet owners to ponder the differences between Heartgard and generic heartworm medications.

When comparing the brand Heartgard manufactured by Merial and its various products to generic heartworm medicine, there are several factors to keep in mind in addition to the initial price. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves medications for pets as well as for humans. When buying either a generic or a name brand heartworm medicine, check to see that the product is FDA registered and approved to ensure its safety and effectiveness.

There are some generic medications that may utilize the metric system regarding dosage amounts. Extra care should be taken when determining how much to give your pet to avoid either an under or overdose.

While economically beneficial, generic medicine that uses fillers, or other ingredients that are not also listed on the brand-name product, may not be as effective for your pet regardless of the lower price.

Generic Heartgard Blue Alternative for smaller dogs weighing under 25 pounds (11 kg) contains the same anti-parasitic medicine as the non-generic version, ivermectin, which protects against heartworms by killing their larvae. Generic Heartgard Blue Alternative is safe for both pregnant or breeding bitches and is available in a six month supply pack, which contains six tablets, and usually sells for about $13 USD.

For medium-sized dogs weighing 25 to 50 pounds (11-23 kg), Generic Heartgard Green Alternative is also available in a six month supply of the meat-flavored tablets for about $16. Generic Heartgard Brown Alternative for larger dogs between 50 and 100 pounds (23-45 kg) also contains ivermectin and sells for around $20.

Tri-Heart Plus, is another oral heartworm medication similar in price to the generic versions of Heartgard that contains two active ingredients, ivermectin and pyrantel. Besides causing the death of heartworm larvae, dirofilaria immitis, the pork-flavored Tri-Heart Plus, which is FDA-approved, also kills intestinal worms in both dogs and puppies over the age of six weeks.

The Heartgard Plus beef-flavored tables also use the ingredients ivermectin along with pyrantel to prevent heartworms, and treat and control kill roundworms, either toxacara canis or toxacara leonina, and hookworms, either ancylostoma caninum, ancylostoma braziliense, or uncinaria stenocephala.

For dogs under 25 pounds, a six month supply of Heartgard Plus is generally between $25 and $30, approximately $34 for medium dogs, and $40 for a half-year’s supply for large dogs.

Of course, your pet’s own vet will be able to offer their advice and recommendations as to which type of product you should give to your dog as they know their personal health history. Also, a prescription from a licensed veterinarian is required for purchasing both generic and Heartgard heartworm medicine, as well as an examination to ensure that in infection isn’t already present before beginning treatment.

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