The problem for many pet owners is that it is difficult to know what medication is best for their pets. Here I would like to offer a little advice to help you choose although, of course, the final decision always lies with the person who cares for the pet.

Choosing Heartworm Medication

The choices we have are really based on a few factors, these are either generics, branded heartworm treatments and treatments that combine heartworm control with treating for other common problems such as fleas and intestinal worms in the same easy to apply application.

Let’s take a look at some of the top recommendations for each category:

The Best Generic Heartworm Medications

We have a few to choose from but it seems that Valuheart is by far the best seller when it comes to the generic option. This is probably due to the fact that it is the generic equivalent of Heartgard. It has Ivermectin as its active ingredient just as Heartgard does and is just as effective at preventing heartworms from reaching a dangerous size.

What it will not do is give any additional protection for roundworms and hookworms like Heartgard Plus will. If you do not need that type of protection than a generic is a perfect choice.

Branded Heartworm Medications

There is little doubt that the Heartguard range is by far the most popular. But there are others as well. For a well respected name then Heartgard is recommended but you will find that all the items here at the heartworm site are very safe and extremely effective at what they do.

It is really down to a personal preference and the amount that you wish to spend when deciding which one to buy. Of course the other main factor is whether to take the opportunity to combine the treatment with treating against intestinal worms and also the ever present problem of flea control.

Combination Treatments

If you currently use a separate treatment for flea control or other worms then it may well be worth considering switching to a combination treatment. The most popular choice is Revolution. This topical external application is applied straight on to the skin. It then provides total protection from heartworms and fleas for at least a month.

For the best all round and total protection then by far the best available treatment is Advantage Multi, also known as Advocate. Here is a quote from the manufacturer:

Advocate Kills Fleas, Flea Larvae, treats and prevents Heartworm Disease, Controls & kills intestinal Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, Treats & kills Sarcoptic Mange & Dog Lice.

As we can see it very effectively combines the treatment for all the common problems we have in both our Dogs and our Cats. If you want to simplify life and ensure that your pet is completely protected from all these all too common problems then Advantage Multi should be your medication of choice. There really is little that is more effective and safe for your pet.

Related posts:

1. When To Use Heartworm Medication
2. Heartworm Medication

Here at heartworm medicine I touched briefly on getting heartworm medication without a prescription on the heartworm medicine for Dogs post. I want to take a closer look at this subject as it is important that as Dog owners we act responsibly as well as trying to get the best prices for our heartworm medicine.

Many countries require you to have a prescription for certain pet meds. Heartworm for Dogs is one of those medications. It is difficult to know whether or not this is a good thing. One thing is certain though, it makes purchasing heartworm medicine online a lot more trouble. The problem is that it is so much cheaper than purchasing from the vets. Sites like Pet Care Choice are one of the few online source where you can make purchases without the need for a prescription for your heartworm medicine for Dogs. They are also very cheap as well which makes them an ever better source for all your pets medications.

But is this legal? Should we buy heartworm medications without a prescription? Let’s take a look at the arguments.

Why To Buy Heartworm Medicine Without A Prescription

Convenience has to be one of the main factors. Going to the vets to ask for a prescription and then having to fax or post it to an online pet meds store is simply too much hassle. For most of us it means we will simply end up spending more money and buy it while we are at the vets.

If we buy from a source like Pet Care Choice then we do not have this inconvenience. We get a very good price and do not have the hassle either. With a few clicks we can have the medicine in a few days without the inconvenience of driving to the vets, getting a prescription and probably spending more money by purchasing while we are there.

This leads on to the second reason. Cost. It is simply cheaper to buy online. We get better deals and can care for our Dogs properly even if we have a fairly tight budget. Of course some sites are much more expensive than others. I have done extensive research in to the prices of heartworm medication for Dogs as well as all other pet meds. There are huge differences in prices and I only recommend the best sources of meds available. I always want people to save as much money as possible.

Why Not To Buy Heartworm Medicine For Dogs Without A Prescription

Some will argue that you need a prescription because all Dogs, ideally, will be tested for adult heartworms before they are put on a monthly course of tablets to prevent the larval worms from ever developing to adults. By needing a prescription it ensures that Dog owners talk to a vet about heartworms before simply using a monthly dose.

Is it legal? This is a grey area. Because places like the US sell the medication only with a prescription you need to purchase from across the border in Canada. They do not have such restrictions. It is not certain if this is entirely legal or not.

Should You Buy Heartworm Medicines Without A prescription?

This is an individual choice. If you have previously had your Dog checked for adult heartworms and are now looking for a cheaper more convenient supply then I don’t see why not. Why pay more and go to all the trouble involved with prescription heartworm medicine?

If you have not had your Dog checked then it is simply a matter of having it tested before you begin a course of monthly treatments. You then know it is safe to use non prescription meds. They are the same meds after all. There is no difference in them at all.

The problem is further compounded by the worms themselves. If your Dog has adult heartworms they can be treated for them at the vets and after a few weeks rest they should be fine. However, many of the meds you can get without a prescription can actually do this job as well, but over a much longer period. The heartworm meds without a prescription that you buy can get rid off the worms as well. The differnece is that you MUST give  a monthly dose for at least a year. You cannot miss a month and it must be every month for at least a year. This will stop any new worms forming and slowly get rid of the adults as well. This is also a much cheaper alternative. Especially if you buy generic heartworm medicine.

This kind of negates the vets visit. Personally I think a visit to the vets for an initial check is the best idea. It may be much better to have the adult worms treated so there is no danger to the Dog if you miss a month of the year long course. It is down to the owner to decide this.

The other issue is one of legality. Personally I find some rules are not sensible. If it is a matter of a single step from one territory to another and I am allowed to buy my heartworm medication without a vets visit then I don’t see the problem. It is a grey area and I cannot find a definitive answer to this question. If I am buying exactly the same product but do not need to drive to the vets and fill in forms and spend more money for the priviledge then that is exactly what I will do. This is again down to personal opinion.

If you want heartworm meds without a prescription then use the cheapest source and get your meds delivered in a matter of days to your door. If you wish to get a prescription first then do so, but you will have the added inconvenience. This is one of those decisions that is entirely up to the indvidual who makes the decision on where to buy heartworm medicine for Dogs.

What do you think? Let me know your opinion on this.

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