Heartgard Plus for Dogs

In owning a dog, one of the important details that a dog owner should always remember is the anniversary dates for medical and health care. Dogs are very vulnerable to heartworm disease, and for this, most vets will recommend a monthly dose of treatment to keep the dog worm free, especially those worms that block arteries like the heartworm. One of the most effective treatment today is the anti-parasitic, FDA approved Tri- Heart Plus®.

Tri-Heart Plus® are affordable chewable tablets that are not difficult at all to feed to your dog. Aside from the heartworm, this tablet will also treat your dog for hookworms and roundworms (ascarids). However, before you even consider giving Tri-Heart Plus® to your dog, you need to have your dog checked by a vet for any worm infection, and at the same time, you will find out if he might have any adverse reaction to the treatment. Some of the ill effects of this treatment are vomiting, diarrhea, convulsion, lethargy, and over production of saliva.

From the other side of the fence, knowing if your dog is infected with worms may be difficult to diagnose. This is because dogs will rarely show signs of a worm infection especially in the first 6 months of being bitten by a carrier mosquito. If ever any signs will show, it is because the infection has grown serious, and the worms have matured into adult worms. In this case, your dog may start coughing slightly, have a hard time breathing, and easily tires during exercise. For severe infections, you will notice fainting, sudden weight loss, coughing up blood, and then heart failure. There have been rare cases when the worm, instead of going to the heart, end up in the brain, eye or leg artery. If this happens, your dog can start having seizures, difficulty in walking, and even vision loss. For these reasons, Tri- Heart Plus® is recommended as a maintenance treatment from the time you get the puppy (or older dog).

Tri- Heart Plus® is dispensed only by a vet, and the strength will depend on the size of the dog.  Federal law dictates that this drug cannot be used without the knowledge and consent of a licensed vet. This makes it advisable not to initially buy the drug online. Here are some of the reasons:

1. Your dog will need to be tested before Tri- Heart Plus® is prescribed. The usual tests are serum and blood to find out if your dog has worms. This is because Tri- Heart Plus® does not treat infected dogs. It is used to prevent infection.

2. Even if your dog has been confirmed to have heartworms, ascarids, or hookworms, a vet must determine the extend of the infection. Treatment cannot just be prescribed. It has to conform with the dog’s condition. A vet will normally ask for an ultrasound and radiograph to help him diagnose your dog’s condition.

3. After the first dose, your dog cannot be allowed to roam freely. He should be confined at least 2 days to check for adverse reaction. For the next 2 months, your dog should not be allowed to exercise. This is because dead worms can cause a stroke which could be fatal.

Finally, if you have children in your home, make sure to keep Tri- Heart Plus® out of their reach. If any such accident should happen, call your doctor immediately, or bring your child to the nearest hospital or Poison Control Center.