![]() As other ivermectin-based products have entered the market, these have also added pyrantel pamoate to extend the spectrum of protection. Because of this fact, pyrantel pamoate, a dewormer, was added to cover hookworms and roundworms in the original Heartgard product. Ivermectin at the heartworm preventive dose is not strong enough to kill common intestinal parasites. This means that if one skips several doses of ivermectin accidentally, it is still worth picking up where one left off. In the 1988 experiment by Atwell, dogs who went off heartworm preventive for four months and then restarted with ivermectin had 95% fewer adult heartworms than dogs who went without ivermectin (though it should be noted that some heartworms were still able to establish infection). ![]() ![]() There is also a phenomenon called the “Reach back effect.” This means that if a dog goes off heartworm preventive medication for a prolonged period (four months was the time tested), re-starting preventive could still preclude adult heartworm infection in the heart and pulmonary arteries. Ivermectin does not kill adult heartworms (just the immature ones) though, as said, it cuts their life expectancy. (ELISA test kits should still be accurate.) In addition to killing microfilariae, ivermectin will also suppress reproduction in the adult female worms and shorten the overall life span of adult worms. This does mean, however, that giving this product to a dog with heartworm will kill all circulating microfilariae and the dog will test erroneously heartworm negative by Difil or Knott’s testing. That said, in most cases no reaction of any kind occurs and the larval worms are cleared without event. This allows the dog to be observed for several hours following the oral dose in case of trouble. If the larval worms die too quickly, a shock-like circulatory reaction can occur so for this reason the American Heartworm Society recommends that the first dose of ivermectin be given under veterinary supervision. Ivermectin kills the developing larval worms and clears the circulating microfilariae thus rendering the dog unable to spread its infection and minimizing the number of adult worms to be killed in the second phase of treatment when the adult worms are specifically addressed. In fact, giving an ivermectin-based heartworm preventive to an infected dog is the first step in heartworm infection treatment. In most cases no reaction of any kind occurs when an ivermectin-based heartworm preventive is given to a heartworm positive dog. If given to a heartworm positive dog by accident In other words, infection takes place but is halted every month when the medication is administered. These medications utilize an extremely low dose of ivermectin which is adequate to kill any 元 and L4 larval stages which are inhabiting the pet’s skin tissues at the time the medication is given. Preventive medication for the first time could be given once a month instead of daily. The approval of ivermectin in 1987 represented a huge breakthrough in heartworm prevention. IVERHART PLUS ®, IVERHART MAX ® made by Virbac.HEARTGARD ®, HEARTGARD PLUS ® made by Merial.There are presently many choices, topical, oral and even injectable, plus, while the subject of this page is canine heartworm prevention, many of the products discussed have feline formulations as well. Some products offer the ability to kill older larvae which helps keep the pet protected in case someone is late giving the heartworm preventive medication at some point. This means that they kill all the heartworm larvae (stage “元” and “L4”) that have accumulated in the past month each time they are given. At this point, the products available are intended for monthly use, with the exception of Proheart6 which is biannual injection. Heartworm preventive medications are used to periodically kill larval heartworms that have managed to gain access to the dog’s body. MOXIDECTIN Based Products(Advantage Multi, Coraxis, Proheart6, Proheart12) MILBEMYCIN Based Products(Sentinel, Trifexis, Interceptor, Interceptor Plus) IVERMECTIN Based Products (Heartgard, Heartgard Plus, Iverhart Plus, Iverhart Max, Tri-Heart Plus, Pet Trust Plus) PREVENTION OF HEARTWORM INFECTION IN DOGS
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