Side Effects Of Heartgard Plus
Dogs can contract heartworm disease quite easily through mosquito bites. Because of this veterinarians typically prescribe some sort of heartworm preventative. Heartgard Plus is a commonly prescribed heartworm prevention medication, however there are several side effects of Heartgard Plus that may present themselves and of which you should be aware.
Doctors Foster and Smith inform us that when mosquitoes bite an infected animal that they themselves are infected with the virus. If they go on to bite an uninfected animal then that animal will be infected with the heartworm larvae that has growing inside the mosquito. Upon infecting a dog the larvae then travels to the heart of the dog and continues to grow into a worm which upon maturing may measure up to 14 inches long! The blood and heart vessels of the dog will be clogged by the growing worms as they continue to grow and fabricate their way to other organs. Untreated this disease will soon kill a dog.
Veterinarians prescribe many heartworm preventatives but one of the most approved is Heartgard Plus. These preventatives are chewable meat-flavored pills typically given every 30 days. Before prescribing heartworm medication, a veterinarian should conduct a test to ensure that the dog has not already be infected.
Heartgard Plus is produced by the international company Merial who also produces other animal health product. Side effects of Heartgard Plus can be found on their company website. These side effects usually occur within 24 hours of your dog keen the medication and can include vomiting and diarrhea (occurred in 1.1 percent of animals tested). Longer-lasting side effects may include lethargy, depression, prolonged and abnormal dilation of the pupils (mydriasis), involuntary muscle movements (ataxia), anorexia, staggering, excessive salivation, and convulsions.
Ivermectin is the active ingredient found in Heartgard Plus. Collies are especially sensitive to this ingredient and elevated dosages may result in mydriasis, ataxia, depression, tremors, paresis (impaired movement), excessive drooling, excitability, stupor, recumbency, coma, and even death. Merial argues that 16 times the normal dosage of ivermectin is required in order to cause this sort of reaction in collies. Heartgard Plus has been tested on collies by Merial at 10 times the normal dosage with no adverse side effects reported. Merial claims that the side effects of Heartgard Plus will not establish themselves in collies if the medication is taken at the recommended dosage.
If you suspect that your dog is showing side effects of Heartgard Plus then you should immediately contact your veterinarian or emergency animal service.
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Filed under Heartworm Medicine Side Effects by on Mar 10th, 2011. 