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Heartgard resource

Welcome to MyPetShed.com — your comprehensive Heartgard and Generic Heartgard resource. Our mission is to give you the facts you need about Heartgard — fast — so you can get on the road to taking action right away`.

The MyPetShed.com website provides a ton of information about Heartgard. In addition, you will find extensive information on leading Heartgard to help you on your way to making the best selection that fits your needs.

Please have a look at our Heartgard articles, products, resources, and additional information located throughout MyPetShed.com.

We strive to provide only quality articles, so if there is a specific topic related to Heartgard that you would like us to cover, please contact us at any time.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our Heartgard website.

Finance is on all of our minds at the moment and finding ways to cut down on the cost of our pets medicines is one way we can make savings. If we can purchase cheap heartgard plus and other regular medicines it will do nothing but ease the financial burden. Here are a few tips on how to save some money.

Compare, compare and compare again. I have stated this countless times in he articles I have written but so many people fail to do it. This is not just for heartworm medicine but for all online purchases. You must do price comparisons across a range of stores unless you know you are getting the lowest prices.

I have now spent months investigating many different prices from online pet medicine stores and although I have found the lowest prices for many medications I could not believe the differences in prices. You can save some serious money by taking time to shop around.

Another very good way to save money is to always consider purchasing from other countries. Americans and British can save considerable money by taking advantage of the lower prices from countries like Canada and Australia. With the exchange rate helping to make prices lower it is worth seriously considering this.

Hopefully just with these few tips you will be able to save some money. In today’s financial climate we want to make all the savings we can. If you shop around and consider buying from another country you can save money and buy cheap heartgard plus.

Anything in excess is bad, especially for your dog. If you’re giving your pet some tender love and care by regularly feeding him with Heartgard For Dogs, make sure it doesn’t go beyond what is necessary. Of course, you care for the health of your adorable pet, and you’ll do practically everything just to see him lively and happy. That includes giving him just the right amount and frequency of medication. Excessive dosage, just like insufficient dosage, can put your dog’s health in grave danger. As a loving and responsible dog owner, you don’t want to be the cause of his misery and suffering. So it’s important that you exercise caution with whatever food or medication you provide to your precious pet.

Instead of protecting your dog from the harmful effects of heartworm parasites (which Heartgard is made for), you might end up causing your poor pet’s demise if you give him excessive Heartgard dosages. The Heartgard medication can only work to the extent of killing the deadly heartworms. The rest depends on you. How you administer the product and how strictly you follow Heartgard instructions are crucial to your dog’s well bring. Wrong dosages of Heartgard can be fatal to your dog. Heartgard medication overdose occurs when you give your dog an amount that is more than the recommended quantities. Heartgard overdose can be avoided by doing some simple actions.

The key to preventing Heartgard overdosage is exercising great caution. When choosing the right Heartgard For Dogs for your pet, check the product label and read its contents. You can find there the dog’s weight to which the medicine is appropriate. The right dose depends on your dog’s weight. The bigger a dog is, the more Heartgard dosage he needs. Of course, it pays to know first how much your dog weighs before you get him a Heartgard. In addition, before you administer the product to your pet, make sure you have read and understood every instruction on the product label.

You can even go to greater lengths by doing your own research. On the Internet, you can find relevant information regarding preventive medications that fight heartworm disease, one of which is Heartgard For Dogs. Take note of the most essential details and use them when you select and use the product for your canine friend. This way, you’ll have peace of mind, knowing that you give just the right dosage for your pet.

More importantly, consult your veterinarian about Heartgard medication for your dog. The vet can properly evaluate your dog and recommend the right dosage. Without a doubt, the vet is the most reliable source of information when it comes to medication for pets.

Heartgard should be given once every month. The medication continues throughout the lifetime of your dog. Better yet, give the medication on the same day of every month. Make sure that your dog chews the product, not swallowing it whole. Feed him in a manner that makes it easy for him to chew Heartgard.

To better monitor your dog’s health, you should be aware of the signs of Heartgard overdose. Watch out for any change in your pet’s behavior, which includes stumbling, disorientation, and poor coordination. These symptoms are usually the first to manifest when your dog is overdosed with Heartgard. Other signs of Heartgard For Dogs overdose include shivering, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, and coma. If your pet has these overdose symptoms, you’d better take him right away to your vet for proper treatment.

Sometimes, Heartgard overdose happens beyond your control. Your dog might have taken the drugs without you seeing it. If you notice that the Heartgard box suddenly becomes empty and you think your dog swallowed all the tablets, then take him immediately to the vet for first aid.

As with any medication, safety goes hand in hand with proper dosage of Heartgard For Dogs. Show your dog some tender love and care by making sure he gets just the right amount of heartworm medication.

By David Tee

Anyone who finds the expense of Heartgard a little too much then there is a very cheap alternative. Generic Heartgard can be purchased for a fraction of the price. It works just as effectively at preventing heartworms but will not cost very much.

A generic simply means it is a less branded product but with the same active ingredients. The best brands I have found come in at just under twenty dollars for a six month supply which is extremely reasonable. This is much less than half the price of the branded product. It is surprising just how low the price is for a generic.

Generics may not come in such fancy packaging but the effects are the same. They get rid of the young worms that are known as heartworms once they grow to maturity. A generic may not come in a tasty flavor but if administered with a small treat what pet would know the difference? If you want to save money then rest assured it is just as effective.

The active ingredient against heartworms in Heargard is Ivermectin, exactly what is in the generic, and at the same dosage. You can rely on it to act in the same way and with the same satisfying results. You should also try to make your purchase without a prescription to save a visit to the vets and also the cost that this often leads to.

If you want to treat for heartworms on a budget then generic heartgard is certainly your best option.

Dogs are a very oral breed of creature. Dog toys are always carried in a dog’s mouth. And, unfortunately, some dogs will contract heartworms. (Heartworms are parasites that inhibit the hearts and lungs of infected dogs and cats.)

Heartworm Prevention

All dogs and cats should be tested every year for heartworms regardless if they have been given a heartworm preventative. Heartworm prevention begins with a blood test to see if parasites are present. If your dog is parasite free, a prophylactic medication can be used to prevent heartworm infection.

Heartgard is one of the most common medications used to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. It is produced by the animal health company Merial. Heartgard is approved for use in dogs of all weights, sizes, and breeds of dogs including Collies and other potentially ivermectin-sensitive breeds. Dogs over 100 pounds are given a combination of tablets.

The medicine works not by totally preventing the presence of heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) in the host animal, but by eliminating the tissue stage of the worm and blocking development to harmful stages.

For dogs, Heartgard is available in a once-monthly tablet or beef flavored chewable and contains ivermectin as the active ingredient. For dogs that normally swallow treats whole, Heartgard tablets can be broken into pieces. And combined with pyrantel pamoate (Heartgard Plus), it also protects against hookworm and roundworm in dogs.

Heartgard’s main advantages are it’s easy to give (picky dogs eat it), and it’s made by the same company as Frontline, so sometimes you can get a rebate if you buy both at the same time.

Precaution: Heartgard comes in various dosages of invermectin to work with different sized dogs and is given monthly. Higher doses in dogs may cause tremors, dilated pupils, and loss of body weight or death.

When it comes to protecting your dog against heartworms, you can’t be too careful. Fortunately, prevention is easy with products like Heartgard or its alternatives. When you consider the cost of treating a dog with a heartworm infestation, a difficult disease to get under control, this product is well worth the price.

But remember, it is available only through a licensed veterinarian. And all dogs should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program.

Heartgard For Cats was the first preventive made for our feline pets. Manufactured by Merck, it is the only preventative specifically designed for cats and is recommended for use in cats 6 weeks of age and older. It also treats and controls roundworms and hookworms.

Heartgard for Cats has a wide margin of safety for all sizes and breeds of cats. it should be given at monthly intervals when mosquitoes potentially carrying infective heartworm larvae are active.

Medications are available for two weight ranges and in two strengths; up to 5lbs and 5-15lbs; and 55mcg and 165mcg, which refer to two weight ranges respectively.

Heartgard for Cats comes in a real-beef chewable that cats love, and can be offered to your cat by hand or may be added to a small amount of cat food. It comes in 6-dose dispensing packs.
Heartgard For Cats

Heartgard Plus is effective against heartworms; plus it controls roundworms and hookworms in dogs and cats.

It is available as flavored chewable tablets and should be chewed rather than swallowed whole. The medicine is approved for puppies and kittens as young as 6 weeks of age.

The tablets come in a 6 month or convenient new 12 month supply. And just like Heartgard, Heartgard Plus is available only through a licensed veterinarian.

Heartworm Disease is a real threat, even to cats who live strictly indoors. Heartgard for Cats will help control and prevent heartworms in your cat. But remember, it is available only through a licensed veterinarian. And you should be to consult with your vet before beginning any preventative program.

Heartgard is one of the most popularly sold heartworm preventative medicines among pet owners. It is also one of the most highly recommended medicines among veterinarians. But…many pet owners complain that Heartgard is too expensive. So, they turn to cheaper medicines that better fit their budget.

Are generic brands worth ‘the risk’?

When money’s tight, the availability of a generic Heartgard can be a real blessing. But let the buyer beware. There are some implications and considerations for pet owners to keep in mind pertaining to generic brands.

Because the costs of pet medications are high we tend to resort to buying generic brands that may not be as effective as the branded versions-even though the generic may be a registered version.

While some forms of generic Heartgard are FDA approved, know that there are also several illegal forms of generics being circulated. These generics are not registered in the United States and they are not FDA approved-even though their packaging may look similar to the branded versions.

Even some registered generic Heartgard knockoffs failed to write an FDA approved label, warning against human consumption, especially among children.

Also know that the metric doses used in some generic medicines can be confusing, and could lead to an overdose (or underdose) if given to pets.

Furthermore, because some generic Heartgards are unregistered and not FDA approved (and look so similar to branded versions), unknown ingredients may be toxic to your pet.

Ivermectin is the chief proven ingredient used in branded Heartgard to prevent and control heartworms in pets. Registered, FDA approved generic competitors know this and use the same principle ingredient. The difference is in the insignificant ‘filler’ ingredients used in the generic products.

The availability of generic Heartgard-at almost half the price-is extremely tempting. But it may not be worth the risk. And you may just be wasting your money. It is always sound advice to check with your veterinarian before buying any pet care product. And, again, whatever you decide: be careful.

Early detection is vital because each kind of dogworm will demand a different type of medical care. Sometimes the signs of a dogworm infestation can be difficult to identify. Other times the signs (like diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss) are much easier to identify. That said, it’s a good idea to have your dog checked over regularly.

Important Note: You should know that some types of dogworms can be transmitted to humans. To promote good hygiene, it is vital for pet owners to wash their hands and clothes regularly after playing outside with their dog-especially before mealtimes.

2 Familiar Dogworms -Which Do You Want to Overcome?

Whipworms

Canines contract whipworms by consuming their eggs. Those eggs live in the dog’s colon and are not noticeable to the naked eye. Once infected, the worms fasten themselves to the puppy’s intestinal walls and feed off them, causing intestinal bleeding.

Common symptoms can include anemia, weight loss, flatulence, diarrhea (with blood or mucus in the stool) and lack of energy.

Prevention & Treatment: You can medicate your dog’s whipworms effectively with fenbendazole (whose brand names are Panacur or Safe-Guard). You can administer the medical care for 3-5 consecutive days for the majority of parasites. Then, consult with your vet to see if a 2nd round of treatment is recommended.

Roundworms

There are 2 types of roundworms: Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine. They are one of the most popular types of dogworms. An infestation of round worms, mostly found in puppies, leads to a pot-bellied appearance.

Causes: Sometimes puppies may become infected before birth, through the mother’s uterus or through her milk. Puppies can also contract roundworms by consuming another infected animal or infected soil.

Roundworm eggs nest in soil. And when a puppy swallows the infected soil, the roundworm eggs will hatch in his intestines. Those worms can in turn bring forth more worms.

Early Detection: Roundworm Symptoms consist of pot-bellied appearance, diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat and weight loss. Look for warning signs of Roundworms in your dog’s stool or vomit. They have a spaghetti-like outline and can reach almost 7 inches in length.

Prevention & Treatment: Puppies between 2 & 12 weeks old should be dewormed every 2 weeks. Puppies between twelve weeks and 6 months old should be dewormed once a month. Puppies older than 6 months of age are less susceptible to roundworms. Even so, continue to have your dog examined at least yearly (or more often if he’s considered “high risk”).

NOTE: You will need a veterinarian’s prescription to buy deworming products.

But…they’re expensive, you say.  And not giving your pet the medicine they need because you cannot afford it isn’t a good option (unless you live somewhere where there aren’t any mosquitoes).  So what can you do?  The way I see it, pet owners have two options:  1) You can shop around for a discounted version  or 2) You can buy generic Heartgard.  Both have their advantages.

Discount Heartgard

Don’t worry, discount Heartgard is still Heartgard, it just costs less.  It still prevents mosquito-born heartworms, at up to 40% less than full price.  The key to finding good, discount Heartgard is to shop around.

Pull out your local YellowPages:  many pet stores compete for lowest prices.  Ask your friends and family where they shop.  Or you can shop online for a discount.  Because of lower overhead, many online stores may be able to offer you things like better discounts and free shipping.

Note:  Know that even online sites will require proof of prescription before they will ship you medicine.

Generic Heartgard

Your second money-saving option is to buy a generic version.  Generic Heartgard is available at almost half the cost of the branded product and can be found both on and offline, in stores all across the country.

Many generics still employ Invermectin as their chief ingredient and are just as effective at fighting dogworms and catworms.  Just be sure—before you buy anything—that the generic brand you are considering is registered and FDA approved.

Be sure to check the ‘filler’ ingredients (the  ingredients not used the in branded version).  (Some filler ingredients may be toxic for your pet.)

Compare the dosage levels.  Remember that many companies use the metric system.  And Tthe metric dosages used in some generic Heartgard medicines can be confusing, and could lead to an overdose (or underdose) of the generic Heartgard if given to your pet.

Also, remember that you should not give Heartgard to a pet that already has heartworms.  It could be fatal

In summary, The availability of generic or discount Heartgard—at almost half the price—is extremely tempting.  But it may not be worth the risk.  And it may not be worth the money you save.  It is always sound advice to check with your veterinarian before treating your pet with any medicine.

Heartgard is a veterinary prescription designed for the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs and cats. It is approved for use in dogs of all weights, sizes, and breeds of dogs-including Collies and other potentially ivermectin-sensitive breeds, as the amount of ivermectin in a directed dose of Heartgard is considerably less than the amounts needed to cause unfavorable reactions. It is also used for the control of hookworm in cats.

Generics

Invermectin is the predominant component used in Heartgard. Thus, Heartgard can be substituted for any generic prescription that contains the same amount of Ivermectin. Iverhart is the generic equivalent to Heartgard. Iverhart Max is the generic form of Heartgard Plus with an added icomponent that neutralizes and prevents tapeworms. Valuheart is an additional generic that offers considerable savings.

For Dogs

Dogs over six months old should be checked for heartworm disease prior to using any medication, and tested annually thereafter. Dogs are a very oral breed of creature. Dog toys are commonly hauled around in a dog’s mouth. For dogs, Heartgard is available in a once-monthly tablet or beef flavored chewable and contains ivermectin as the predominant icomponent. For dogs that usually swallow treats whole, the tablet can be broken into pieces. Heartgard is so easy to give many dogs will think it’s a treat.

For Cats

Heartgard for cats is available in a once-monthly chewable tablets and aids in the removal and control of hookworms as well as heartworms. The prescription is recommended for use in cats of any weight, six weeks of age and up. The regular dose for cats 5 pounds or less is 55 mcg and for cats 6-15 pounds is 165 mcg. Side effects in cats include agitation, loss of appetite, staggering, dilated pupils, tremors, blindness and disorientation.

Heartgard is completely safe to use on your cat or dog regardless of weight, breed or whether or not they are pregnant. It is one hundred percent effective in the fight against heartworms; and it subordinated roundworms too. But it is available only through a licensed veterinarian.

In the end, the final choice in deciding what’s best for your dog or cat’s health will be up to you. Use the tips in this article to find the best course of action for and find yourself sleeping a little better at night.