Liquid Heartworm Medicine for Dogs

Heartworm medicine for dogs is one of the most important things to invest in for pets of any age, although puppies are particularly susceptible to these devastating and often fatal parasites. Heartworms attack your pet's heart muscle, living in and laying eggs in the heart. This can lead to major health concerns for your pet and, if left untreated is very often fatal. It's important to recognize that most heartworm medications are designed to be given to pet's as a preventative measure; if your pet already has heartworms, you'll need to consult with your vet to find out which other medications to provide to the animal.

Liquid Heartworm Medicine Types

There are a number of liquid heartworm medicines that are available. In fact, most of the leading heartworm medications for dogs at this point are liquid. They are usually designed to be used subcutaneously. This means that the medications are placed onto the surface of your pet's skin and are absorbed into the top layer of skin, where they will then infuse throughout your dog's body to eliminate any heartworm parasites before they have a chance to settle into your pet's heart muscle.

The most common types of liquid heartworm medicines for dogs include:

  • Revolution Heartworm Medication
  • Advantage Multi Heartworm Medicine
  • Triheart

These medicines function in very similar ways but are not entirely the same, so it's a good idea to consult with your veterinarian about particular ways in which you can choose between them to best benefit your pet's health.

Choosing a Liquid Heartworm Medicine

Revolution is a popular choice of heartworm medicine because it is extremely well rounded and versatile. It is not only effective against heartworms, but also helps to protect your pet from fleas, ticks, mites and many other types of parasites which live on the surface of your pet's body as well.

Advantage and Tri-heart are popular choices as well. They provide slightly different lists of risks and side effects as compared with Revolution, and they can both be used in younger dogs as well. Because each of these medicines also has certain counterindications, such as pregnancies and certain other types of preexisting health conditions, it's a good idea to inform your vet of all health concerns that you have for your pet before you begin any type of treatment.

Benefits and Risks of Heartworm Medicines

Heartworm medicines are encouraged by virtually every vet, as the benefits far outweigh the risks. The primary benefit is protection against potential heartworm infestation, although many of these drugs also protect against other parasites too.

The risks of heartworm medication include potential side effects that occur when a pet accidentally ingests some of the medicine. These may include:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite

There can also be more serious potential consequences as well, so it's important that you thoroughly review all risks of the medicine that you choose before you begin to provide it to your pet. Using heartworm medication, liquid or otherwise, can help to ensure that your pet lives a long, healthy life.

 

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