One Missed Dose? Here’s Why Monthly Heartworm Prevention Matters for Dogs

As a pet parent, finding a positive heartworm test in your dog can be scary. After that, you might be wondering what treatment involves, how much it will cost, and how this fatal disease may impact your dog’s quality of life. And it’s quite overwhelming, right? What if you take some precautions and protect your beloved dog before things get worse? That’s what this blog covers. Knowing how preventing heartworm disease can help you feel confident while dealing with this deadly disease. Let’s get started!

What is Heartworm Disease in Dogs?

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease that affects pets in the USA and many other parts of the world. Canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a nasty parasite infection in dogs. It does not spread from dog to dog but is transmitted by mosquitoes (we have lots of those). When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up blood-borne heartworm larvae, which are transferred to other animals the next time it bites.

These immature larvae then travel through your dog’s bloodstream and take up to 6 months to mature into adults. Adult heartworms settle in the heart for 5 to 7 years, where they begin to grow. These parasites are called “heartworms” because they live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of an infected animal.

In the early stages, many dogs show few symptoms. However, some early signs of heartworm disease may include:

• Mild persistent cough
• Reluctance to exercise
• Fatigue after moderate activity
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss

Why is Monthly Prevention so Important?

Heartworms are not visible to the naked eye, and symptoms of the disease may not appear until it has reached an advanced stage. If left untreated, heartworm can cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs, which can be fatal.

Especially when we talk about heartworm treatments, they are costly, lengthy, and can be risky for your dog. That’s the reason veterinarians often recommend monthly heartworm preventives, which are a safer and more affordable option to prevent the potentially fatal infection before it starts.

As you know, mosquitoes can be active year-round, even in cold weather. So, a single missed dose can leave your dog vulnerable to heartworm infection. Most heartworm preventatives kill the immature larvae in the beginning stage before they can develop into adult heartworms. These preventatives can be given consistently every month to ensure your dog’s full heartworm protection.

Here we have discussed some of the effective monthly heartworm prevention options for dogs:

Monthly Heartworm Preventives for Dogs

Heartgard Plus for Dogs

Heartgard Plus is the #1 veterinarian-recommended heartworm preventative. It comes in a delicious, real-beef-flavored chew that most dogs accept easily. It contains ivermectin and pyrantel as active ingredients to prevent heartworm disease, as well as treat and control hookworms and roundworms in dogs. This monthly heartworm preventive is is safe for dogs and puppies 6 weeks of age and older.Heartgard Plus is available in three dosage strengths for dogs of different weights.

Revolution for Dogs

Revolution is a top-rated monthly topical treatment for broad parasite protection in dogs. This simple, quick-drying, spot-on application  gets absorbed through the skin and enters the bloodstream. Concentartions of selamectin, the active ingredient of Revolution, in the blood and tissues prevents heartworm disease. It selectively distributes from the blood to the skin, where it provides protection against fleas, ticks (American dog ticks), ear mites, and sarcoptic mange as well.

Revolution is recommended for use in dogs six weeks of age or older. Moreover, Revolution is available in five separate color-coded dose strengths based on the dog’s body weight. Each strength comes in a convenient pack of 3, 6 or 12 single-dose tubes.

Advantage Multi for Dogs

Advantage Multi is an effective once-a-month topical solution for dogs. It combines imidacloprid and moxidectin, which are absorbed into the body to prevent heartworm disease, treat Dirofilaria immitis circulating microfilariae, kill adult fleas, and treat intestinal parasites (hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms) and sarcoptic mange.

Once applied and used as recommended, Advantage Multi keeps protecting your dog after a swim or bath (4 days after treatment). Even if you forget your monthly dose, you can just treat immediately and resume your monthly schedule. Advantage Multi is safe for use on puppies at least 7 weeks old and weighing at least 3 pounds.

Advantage Multi is available in four different weight-based, color-coded packages in 3, 6 or 12-dose packs.

Interceptor Plus for Dogs

Interceptor Plus is a monthly, chicken-flavored chewable for dogs. Milbemycin oxime and praziquantel are the two active ingredients in Interceptor Plus that protect dogs against five of the most common types of worms. In a well-controlled laboratory study by Elanco, Interceptor Plus was proven 100% effective against induced heartworm infections when administered once monthly for 6 consecutive months. It also treats and controls adult hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.

Interceptor Plus is approved for use in dogs and puppies weighing at least 2 pounds and 6 weeks of age or older. Furthermore, it comes in four different color-coded boxes based on the dog’s body weight, with each option available in three, six, or twelve chewable tablets packs.

Wrapping Up

The good news is that heartworm is largely preventable. Regular prevention, combined with veterinary guidance, can help protect your dog from the serious disease. Just stay consistent with the preventives to make sure your fur baby is doing well overall. This way, you can safeguard their long-term health and keep your dog happy and healthy.

Disclaimer: Always consult your veterinarian to ensure the heartworm preventatives you use are safe for your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What happens if I miss a dose of my dog’s heartworm preventative?

Missing a dose can leave a small window of time where heartworm larvae may develop. If this happens, it’s best to talk with your veterinarian about what to do next and resume your regular schedule as soon as possible.

• Do indoor dogs need heartworm prevention?

Yes, indoor dogs need heartworm prevention, as mosquitoes can easily get into your house and infect your pet, even if your pet is indoors all the time.

• Is heartworm prevention really necessary all year round?

In many regions, mosquitoes can remain active beyond the summer months. Year-round prevention helps maintain consistent protection and reduces the risk of gaps that could allow heartworm larvae to develop.