"Heartworm prevention medicine" refers to medication that is given to pets, usually dogs, to protect them from a parasitic infection called heartworm. This medication helps to prevent heartworms from developing inside the pet's body, which can lead to serious health issues and potentially be fatal if left untreated.
Full definition
If you've missed a dose
of heartworm prevention medicine, there are several things you need to take into consideration before starting your pet back on heartworm preventatives.
When you adopt a dog from the County Shelter, FOTAS pays for the antibiotics and the first 6 months of Heartguard — that's money in your pocket because you need to give your dog the monthly
heartworm prevention medicine anyway; and
«Dogs are infected with heartworms by mosquitoes, but it takes a long time for heartworm larvae to mature into adult, reproducing worms that can strangle the heart,» says Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS, «so heartworm disease in a healthy, young dog is treatable with a course of antibiotics, which weakens any maturing worms, followed by
monthly heartworm prevention medicine, like Heartguard, which every dog in the South should be on anyway.»
Question: Is there
any heartworm prevention medicine that doesn't require a prescription?
Before administering
any heartworm prevention medicine, however, be sure to first have your dog tested for heartworms.
Fortunately,
heartworm prevention medicine is an easy means of control.
The heartworm prevention medicine that AHNA prescribes also prevents intestinal parasites, including whipworms.