Heartworm, Roundworm and Hookworm Infestations and Benefits of Heartgard Plus
Heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms are three types of worms that can be collectively and arguably called the most dangerous parasites for pets currently existing in this world. These 3 types of worms if ignored and allowed to thrive are potent enough to cause life-threatening health complications in your pet by sucking nutrients and blood from your beloved pet’s body thus weakening the immunity of your pet. However, heartworms alone are dangerous enough to cause fatal ailments that have to be dealt with the invasive type of treatments.
Therefore, as a vigilant and caring pet parent, you always research and trouble your vet to find out the apt remedy that treats &controls roundworms and hookworms, and also acts as a solid shield against heartworm infestations. Little did you know that the suited treatment you are looking for is already in the market and is called Heartgard Plus.
Heartgard Plus is a beef-flavored preventive chew that protects your pet against heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm infestations. But before we proceed and discuss the benefits of the Heartgard plus heartworm preventive, let’s get acquainted with these parasites roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms.
Roundworms (Toxocara Canis, Toxascaris leonina, and Toxocara cati)
Roundworms are the round-shaped worms that live in the intestinal tract of your pet and feed on the nutrients that were supposed to benefit your pet. 3-6inch in length, these worms grow big in size and in their adult stage, female roundworms lay eggs that are excreted with the stool. These eggs take several weeks to mature into larvae that eventually infect another host.
Almost 14.5 percent of dogs in the US are suffering from roundworms.
Your pet may become infected with these larvae when they feed on the stool consisting of larvae/eggs or eat other larvae hosts like rodents, birds, roaches, and birds. These parasites are even passed by the mother pet to their kids while birth or after birth while nursing.
Common symptoms that your pet will show are –
- Pot-bellied appearance
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Weigh loss
- Dull coat
- Lethargy
- Weakness
[Read] Roundworms in Dogs – A Guide on Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Hookworms
Hookworm infestation is more common in dogs with almost 19% of dogs in the US and Canada carrying these worms in their intestine. These worms are very small half an inch long worms with the hook-like cutting mouth parts they get attached to the intestinal walls of your pet and feed on the blood.
The eggs of hookworms are so small that they can be diagnosed only through the microscopic examination of the feces.
Your pet may get affected by these worms by ingesting eggs present in the feces. Moreover, these worms can even penetrate your pet’s skin. The symptoms that can be observed are – pale look and anemia when the infestation is severe. There is also a huge risk of life in case of heavy infestations.
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis)
As you’ve read earlier in this blog, these worms are the nastiest worms existing in the world. Males are as long as 4-5 inches while the females are 10-12 inches long. These worms are transferred from one infected dog/cat to another healthy dog/cat by mosquitoes. When the mosquito bites an infected host it sucks in the heartworm offspring called microfilariae which becomes infectious while they live in mosquito and is injected into a healthy dog/cat’s body in the subsequent bites.
The worst thing about these infestations is that the symptoms become noticeable only after 5-6 months of infestation when the larvae have already matured into an adult. The clinical diagnosis is also possible only after 5-6 months of infestation. However, these nasty creatures can survive 7 years in a host’s body.
Symptoms that can be rarely observed in the initial period are – coughing, feeling tired, breathing issues and in severe cases, heart failure.
There are several treatments available for hookworms and roundworms but for heartworms, the treatments are limited and have critical side-effects hence it would be wise if you opt for a preventive that stops these infestations.
[Read] Prevention of Heartworm Disease in Pets
Now Getting Back To Heartgard Plus
Heartgard Plus
One of the most trusted and followed heartworm preventives in the US is Heartgard Plus. Let’s have a look at the working process and the benefits of an apt heartworm preventive called Heartgard plus.
How Heartgard Plus Works
The tasty beef-flavored chew contains ivermectin that kills the newly transmitted infectious heartworm larvae (microfilaria) in your pet’s blood vessels thus eliminating the threat of heartworm infestation. However, if there are adult heartworms present in your pet’s body then ivermectin will not be able to kill them and you will have to take the help of your vet. On the other side, Pyrantel is very effective on both the fronts i.e. treating the worms and preventing the worms because pyrantel paralyzes the existing worms like roundworms and hookworms, as a result, it helps the body to excrete them with the stool in a natural way. If given regularly Pyrantel can kill ingested eggs as well thus breaking the worm cycle.
Benefits
- Recommended by almost every veterinarian
- Protects your dog from roundworms and hookworms
- A solid defense program against heartworm infestation
- Extremely easy to administer since it is an oral treatment
- Beef flavored chew is loved by dogs
- A single chewable that is effective for a full month
- Safe to be given to pregnant or breeding female dogs
- Manufactured by a world-renowned treatment brand named –MERIAL
- Potent ingredients like Ivermectin and Pyrantel
- Heartgard plus is considered a safe treatment but in case of any adverse reactions you can contact your vet immediately
- However, it is always recommended to consult your vet before administering the treatment
Now since you know the benefits, you also might want to know that does it “actually” work. Or are these benefits just the “benefits on paper”? So, to reduce your research time and satisfy your curiosity, here is proof that the pet parents actually are satisfied with the product and are happy to recommend.
Heartgard Plus Is Loved By The People
*Pet parents having Border Collies breed as pets should not use this product because they have a genetic intolerance to ivermectin and therefore they should consult their vet and look for the alternative of Ivermectin.
Well, the final call is always yours whenever it comes to health care of your pet. Just remember one thing that your pet won’t tell you any problem he/she has but you have to figure it out. So, pay strict attention to your pet’s behavior and minute health issues because they can be a signal to a huge underlying health complication.