Heartgard for My Dog

As a dog lover you already know that your dog needs lot of love and attention but you may not know or realize that it is just as important to protect their hearts. Any dog owner that lives where mosquitoes bite should have their dog on a preventive treatment for heartworms. One of the easiest treatments available for dogs is found in Heartgard.

What is Heartgard for Dogs?

Heartgard is a preventive medicine given to your dog to prevent the mosquito transmitted disease known as heartworm. Before beginning a treatment program with your dog you will need to take the dog to your veterinarian and have a blood test to make sure that your dog is not currently infected with heartworms. Once they determine that there is no heartworm infestation then you will begin treatment.

Heartgard for dogs is given once a month and you should try giving it to your dog on the same day of each month. This is because the treatments are more effective when the doses are given within a 30 day period. The medicine comes in small bite sized pieces and is flavored so that your dog will actually eat them from your hand, you will not have to worry about trying to force the medicine down their throat because they actually like the taste of it.

There are three different strengths of medicine that Heartgard offers for dogs. The dosing will depended on how much your dog weighs. The first dosage is for dogs that weigh less than 25 pounds, the next dosage is for dogs over 25 pounds but less than 50 pounds, and then for your large dog you have the over 51 pounds and up to 100 pounds. It is important to choose the correct dosage not enough medicine will be just as bad as them not receive any at all.

Does My God Require Heartgard?

The answer is yes. Any dog that is an area that has mosquitoes needs to have monthly treatment for preventing heartworm. Once a dog is infested with heartworms it is very hard to treat them for it and the disease is more often than not fatal to the dog. That is because treatment actually requires surgery to physically remove the worms from around your dog’s heart.

Benefits of Using Heartgard

The biggest benefit for using Heartgard is that it is a simple and effective way to prevent the insidious disease of heartworms. Dogs love the taste of it so it is easy to give it to them and it is relatively inexpensive. You can purchase it in a 6 month supply or some veterinarians will let you by them one dose at a time.

Are There Any Side Effects?

As with any medicine there are some dogs that will have reactions to the medication. During testing Collie-like breeds seem to be more sensitive than other breeds. The reactions for dogs can range from mild stomach discomfort to diarrhea and vomiting. Heartgard for dogs is now wheat-free so sensitivities are down even more.

Using Heartgard for dogs is the best preventive medicine for avoiding heartworms. It is easy to give your dog and for a 6 month supply it will only cost you from $25 to $40 depending on the doses needed. Keeping your dog’s heart healthy will give you and your dog many worry free years together.

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