Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

Heartworm disease is a very serious infection of parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites. The bad news is that heartworm disease is fatal if left untreated. The good news is that it's preventable with regular treatments of approved medications. There are two types of heartworm prevention medications available: oral and topical.

Oral

Oral heartworm medications come in the form of flavored or unflavored chewable tablets. If your dog won't take the tablet by itself, try mixing it with his food or wrap it in a small piece of cheese.

Topical

Topical solutions are tubes of liquid medicine that you apply directly to the dog's skin. You should apply the medicine between your dog's shoulder blades to prevent her from licking the area.

How to Treat

For maximum protection against heartworm disease, most medications require year round treatment on the same day every month.

How to Buy

For first-time purchase, contact your veterinarian for his recommendation of the best treatment for your dog. Heartworm medications are available by prescription only. You can purchase your dog's heartworm medication from your veterinarian or through an online retailer such as 1800PetMeds.com and PetCareRX.com.

Brands

Oral brands include Heartgard, Interceptor, Iverhart and Sentinel. Topical brands include Advantage and Revolution.

Resources

• American Heartworm Society