Indications 

Heartgard Plus Green is a dog medicine indicated for the prevention of heartworm disease by eradicating young heartworm larvae for 30 days after infection and for managing ascarids and hookworms. 

Heartgard Plus Green has two active anthelmintic drugs: ivermectin and pyrantel.  

Ivermectin helps prevent heartworm disease by assisting the immune system in deactivating heartworm larvae before maturation. On the other hand, pyrantel manages hookworms and ascarids by causing paralysis, making the worms detach from the intestinal wall and pass out of the dog’s system naturally. 

Uses and Dosage 

Heartgard Plus Green is intended for use under the direction of a licensed veterinarian. 

Before giving this medication to your dog and every time you get a prescription refill, read the accompanying information leaflet. Ask your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns. 

Heartgard Plus Green is suitable for dogs aged 6 weeks and above. The prescribed dosage may differ depending on the dog’s weight. 

This medication is usually administered monthly when mosquitoes, potential carriers of heartworm larvae, are active.  

The initial dose should be given within 30 days of the dog’s first exposure to mosquitoes and the final dose within 30 days of the dog’s last exposure to mosquitoes. 

Heartgard Plus Green can be given to dogs by hand. To minimize the risk of choking or intestinal blockage, give the tablet in a way that promotes chewing rather than immediate swallowing. 

Alternatively, the tablet can be placed whole in a small portion of dog food to promote chewing. However, ensure the dog ingests the entire dose at once. 

Monitor your dog for a few minutes after administration to confirm complete medicine ingestion. If any part of the dose is suspected to be lost, an additional dose must be administered. 

To ensure effectiveness, administer Heartgard Plus Green monthly, ideally on the same approximate day each month. If there is a delay, whether it is a few days or more, immediate treatment and adherence to the dosing schedule are crucial to minimize the risk of adult heartworm development. 

Side Effects 

Reported side effects of Heartgard Plus Green include: 

• Depression or lethargy 
• Vomiting 
• Loss of appetite (anorexia) 
• Diarrhea 
• Dilated pupils (mydriasis) 
• Lack of coordination (ataxia) 
• Staggering 
• Seizures (convulsions) 
• Excessive drooling (hypersalivation) 

Instances of choking or intestinal blockage have been reported as well following the use of Heartgard Plus Green in some cases. 

If any of these side effects persist or worsen, notify your veterinarian. 

This list may not include all potential side effects of Heartgard Plus Green. If you suspect any other adverse drug reactions, inform your veterinarian. 

Cautions 

Prior to initiating treatment with Heartgard Plus Green, dogs should undergo testing for existing heartworm infection, as this medication is ineffective against adult D. immitis. Dogs found to be infected must receive treatment to eliminate adult heartworms and microfilariae before beginning a regimen with Heartgard Plus Green. 

Heartgard Plus Green may eliminate some microfilariae when used as directed, but it is not reliable for clearing them. Clinical trials have shown that dogs with circulating microfilariae treated solely with ivermectin may experience a mild hypersensitivity response characterized by temporary diarrhea, likely attributed to dying or dead microfilariae.