Preventative measures include Ivermectin, Milbemycin, and Selamectin, and in every case it is most certainly better to use heart worm protection for dogs rather than try to cure the infestation once it is established. Heart worm medication treatments can be a lengthy process for existing infestations, and surgical intervention for your pet is also a possibility. It is better to be proactive and use heartworm prevention instead of chancing things, as this is better for the health of your dog and also your wallet. Fortunately for pet owners, there are a lot of heartworm protection choices on the market. It is important to note that there are medications used to treat an existing condition of heartworm, and there are different medications for prevention of heartworm.

Traditionally, arsenic compounds were used for heartworm control once the infection had taken hold, but many cats and some dogs suffered from pulmonary problems several days after the treatment, so generally these arsenic compounds are avoided in cat treatment. When using a weaker form of heartworm protection, you can expect the treatment to last 18 months, which is not acceptable except in a few cases. Heartworm medication just like any medicine can be hard to administer, especially if you are dealing with another species who don't understand you are trying to help them. Heartworm pills are probably not in the top ten of favorite dog tastes, so fortunately companies such as Merial who make Heartgard canine heartworm prevention manufacture chewable Heartgard Plus in beef flavor. Heartgard has been shown to very effective, and bad news for heartworms.

Heartgard works very well at treating heartworm. Of course, roundworms are a worry and this heartworm medicine, as well as Interceptor heartworm medicine will also give some levels of protection. The Revolution program flea control tackles heart worm disease and many other parasites, but if your goal is simply to get rid of fleas, you may find Advantage for dogs to be a better option. Advantage flea control does not protect against heartworm, while Revolution does.

To simplify matters, Sentinel heartworm treatment is an all-in-one solution, protecting your pet from heartworm, fleas, roundworms and other parasites. Two products available today, Revolution or Sentinel, protect your pet from heartworm as well as from fleas. Don't forget to add flea protection to the mix, as most canine heartworm protection does not have this protection.

About the author: Rebecca Foxton can help you give your pet better health with Interceptor For Dogs. Check out her nutrition tips for people with dogs and cats and read her Fortiflora articles on Dog Buffs.