Confused about Heartworm prevention options? These two charts compare current heartworm preventive products side by side to assist you in determining which is right for your situation.

	For Dogs or Cats	Heartworm Preventing Ingredient	Other Ingredients for Control of Other Parasites	Other Parasites Controlled	Mode of Application	Youngest Age to Start Using
Heartgard for Dogs	Dogs	Ivermectin	None	None	oral	6 weeks
Heartgard Plus Iverhart Plus Iverhart Max Triheart Plus Pet Trust Plus	Dogs	Ivermectin	Pyrantel Pamoate Iverhart Max also has Praziquantel	Hookworms, Roundworms Iverhart Max also covers Tapeworms	oral	6 weeks
Heartgard for Cats	Cats	Ivermectin	None	Hookworms	oral	6 weeks
Interceptor	Dogs and Cats	Milbemycin Oxime	None	Hookworms, Roundworms, Whipworms	oral	4 weeks for puppies 6 weeks for kittens
Sentinel Sentinel Spectrum	Dogs	Milbemycin Oxime	Lufenuron Sentinel Spectrum also has Praziquantel	Hookworms, Roundworms, Whipworms, sterilizes Fleas Sentinel Spectrum also covers Tapeworms	oral	4 weeks
Revolution	Dogs and Cats	Selamectin	None	For dogs: Fleas, Ticks, Ear Mites, Sarcoptic Mange Mites For Cats: Fleas, Ear Mites, Hookworms, Roundworms	topical	6 weeks for puppies 8 weeks for kittens
Advantage Multi	Dogs and Cats	Moxidectin	Imidocloprid	For dogs: Fleas, Hookworms, Roundworms, Whipworms For Cats: Fleas, Ear Mites, Hookworms, Roundworms	topical	7 weeks for puppies 9 weeks for kittens
Proheart6	Dogs	Moxidectin	None	Hookworms	injectable	6 months (and no older than 7 years)
Trifexis	Dogs	Milbemycin Oxime	Spinosad	Fleas, Hookworms, Roundworms, Whipworms	oral	8 weeks

	How Often Used	Approved for Pregnancy and Lactation?	Water-proof?	Safe to Give to Heartworm Positive Animal?	Manufacturer Website	LD50 what’s this?
Heartgard for Dogs	monthly	yes	yes	yes	Heartgard	10 mg/kg in rats orally according to MSDS sheet for Parade Equine Gel
Heartgard Plus Iverhart Plus Triheart Plus Pet Trust Plus	monthly	yes	yes	yes	Heartgard Plus Iverhart Plus Triheart Plus PetTrustPlus	10 mg/kg in rats orally for ivermectin; >690 mg/kg in dogs orally for Pyrantel Pamoate according to The Elephant Formulary by Mikota and Plumb
Heartgard for Cats	monthly	yes	yes	yes	Heartgard	10 mg/kg in rats orally
Interceptor	monthly	yes	yes	In most cases yes but if microfilariae numbers are high then no	Interceptor	LD50 information unavailable Symptoms of tremors and incoordination result at 19 times recommended dose
Sentinel Sentinel Spectrum	monthly	yes	yes	In most cases yes but if microfilariae numbers are high then no	Sentinel	LD50 information unavailable Symptoms of tremors and incoordination result at 19 times recommended dose
Revolution	monthly	yes	yes	yes	Revolution	>1600 mg/kg in the rat orally
Advantage Multi	monthly	no	no	yes	Advantage Multi	Moxidectin: 106 mg/kg orally; Imidocloprid: 450 mg/kg in the rat orally
Proheart6	every 6 months	yes	yes	No, in fact owner must agree to pre-treatment labwork including heartworm testing	Proheart6	263 mg/kg in the rat when given by injection (the dose used therapeutically is 0.17mg/kg)
Trifexis	monthly	Manufactuer cautions use, says to discuss with your veterinarian	yes	In most cases yes but if microfilariae numbers are high then no	Trifexis	Milbemycin Oxime: LD50 information unavailable  Spinosad: >3,000 mg/kg in rats; >2,000 mg/kg in rabbits (translates to over 30 times recommended dose)

For a comparison of the anti-flea products
(Comfortis, Vectra 3D, Vectra for Cats, Promeris, Promeris Feline,
Revolution, Advantage, K9 Advantix, Advantage Multi,
Frontline, Frontline Plus, Program, Sentinel and Capstar),
click here.

For comparison of the anti-tick products
(K9 Advantix, Revolution, Promeris, Preventic Collar, Frontline and Vectra 3D)
click here.

Page last updated: 3/28/2012