Details
Benefits:
- Effective treatment against heartworm for cats
- Safe and effective, Heartgard is approved by the FDA
- Once-a-month beef-flavored chewable
What you should know about Heartworms and your Cat:
It isn't just dogs that can get heartworm disease - cats are susceptible too. Heartworm disease is a potentially life threatening illness caused by a parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Feline heartworm disease is an increasingly recognized problem - clinical research indicates that it takes as few as one or two heartworms to cause severe illness or sudden death in cats. As we know only too well, mosquitoes can get inside a house very easily. So, it's important that your cat be protected all year long from this risk by giving him/her an easy to take heartworm preventive for cats.
How does Heartgard for Cats work?:
Heartgard for cats prevents feline heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae Dirofilaria immitis for a month 30 days after infection, and for the removal and control of adult and immature hookworms Ancylostoma tubaeforme and A. braziliense.
Cautions:
Keep out of reach of children
Heartgard is manufactured by and is a registered trademark of Merial. The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. We reference Merial as the source for our information. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the diagnosis, and treatment of your pet. As stated the information provided is for educational purposes to aid you in purchasing your pet's medication, it is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, nor does this information suggest that this medication will be tolerated by your pet or that your pet will not experience side effects.
Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
Instructions
DOSAGE: HEARTGARD for Cats should be administered orally at monthly intervals at the recommended minimum dose level of 24 mcg of ivermectin per kg (10.9 mcg/lb) of body weight. The recommended dosage schedule for prevention of feline heartworm disease and control of hookworm is as follows:
Cat Weight lb
|
HEARTGARD for Cats Chewables per month
|
Ivermectin content
|
Up to 5 lb
|
1
|
55 mcg
|
5 to 15 lb
|
1
|
165 mcg
|
For cats over 15 lb, use the appropriate combination of chewables.
HEARTGARD for Cats is recommended for use in cats 6 weeks of age and older.
How do I give Heartgard to my Cat?:
Remove only one Chewable at a time from the foil-backed blister card.
Return the card with the remaining Chewables to its box to protect the product from light.
HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats can be offered to the cat by hand or may be added to a small amount of cat food.
If manual dosing is required, the Chewable should be broken into pieces for administration.
Food should be routinely available during the day of treatment administration.
If cats are fasted, or if the Chewable is not broken into pieces for manual dosing, then reduced absorption may result. A relationship between reduced absorption and reduced efficacy has not been established. 
Care should be taken to see that the cat consumes the complete dose. 
Treated animals should be observed for a few minutes after administration to ensure that part of the dose is not lost or rejected. If it is suspected that any of the dose has been lost, redosing with a new Chewable is recommended. 
Fragments of Chewables have occasionally been observed in the feces of some cats efficacy of the product was not adversely affected.
How often do I give my cat Heartgard?
HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats should be given at monthly intervals when mosquitoes potentially carrying infective heartworm larvae are active. The initial dose must be given within a month 30 days after the cat's first exposure to mosquitoes. The final dose must be given within a month 30 days after the cat's last exposure to mosquitoes. For optimal performance, HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats must be given once a month on or about the same date. If treatment is delayed, whether by a few days or many, immediate treatment with HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats and resumption of the recommended dosing regimen will minimize the opportunity for development of adult heartworm.  It is recommended that cats should be tested for existing heartworm infection prior to starting treatment with HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats. Cats already infected with adult heartworms can safely be given HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats monthly to prevent further infections.
Monthly treatment with HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats also provides effective removal and control of adult and immature hookworms A. tubaeforme and A. braziliense.