How to Buy Heartworm Medication Online

Heartworms are a species of roundworm that can be deadly for both dogs and cats. The good news is that the parasites can be easily prevented with regular doses of heartworm medication. Have your pets checked annually by your vet for the presence of heartworms in their blood, whether or not they are on preventive medicine. Don't wait for your dog or cat to show symptoms; most pets with heartworms show no symptoms for months or even years.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Discuss with the vet which product is the best for your pet.There are several brands of heartworm medication, including Heartgard, Interceptor and Sentinel, which also includes a flea-control component. Most owners choose monthly chewable tablets, although other preventive treatments, including a new six-month injection for dogs, are available.

2. Ask the vet for a written prescription for the appropriate heartworm medication.

3. Choose an online vendor for heartworm medication, such as 1-800-PetMeds, or a mail order pet-supply company such as Drs. Foster and Smith. A legitimate vendor will require a prescription. Choose a company that has a substantial online presence and excellent online reviews.

4. Send the prescription to the vendor by mail or fax. The vet can also fax the prescription to the online vendor. Some vendors will contact the vet directly to obtain the prescription, but it is more efficient to do this yourself the first time to avoid miscommunications between the vendor and your vet.

5. Once the prescription is on file, you can reorder for one year. After that, you must get a new, current prescription.

Tips & Warnings

• Give heartworm medication to pets year-round. Cases of mature heartworms, which clog the pet's heart chambers and pulmonary vessels, are increasingly common, especially in southern states where mosquitoes can survive throughout the year.
• According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pet owners should make sure they order heartworm pills only from websites that require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian. Often, illegitimate foreign vendors will offer to have their own doctor evaluate a pet's needs according to the owner's statements. These vendors may sell the pet owner the wrong medication in the wrong dosage, which could be dangerous.

References

• American Heartworm Society
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Who Can Help Sponsored