Heartgard Plus is an oral chew that protects against heartworm, roundworm and hookworm infections. It contains ivermectin to kill heartworm larvae and prevent infection, and pyrantel to treat and prevent roundworms and hookworms. It is recommended by veterinarians as an easy to administer, monthly treatment that is safe, effective and loved by dogs due to its beef flavor. However, it should not be used for Border Collies due to their genetic intolerance to ivermectin.

1. Does Heartgard Plus effective against Hookworms,
Heartworm and Roundworm?
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.

2. 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. 3-6
inch 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 the birth while nursing.
Common symptoms that your pet will show are –
• Pot-bellied appearance
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weigh loss
• Dull coat
• Lethargy
• Weakness

3. 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.
[Read] Roundworms in Dogs – A Guide on Symptoms, Causes &
Treatment
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis)
As you’ve read earlier in this blog, that 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 microfilaria 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.

4. 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.
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 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

5. • 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 the 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.