Heartworms in dogs aren’t new, but a 12 month prevention shot is! We have lots of great oral monthly preventatives, a few topical medications, but ProHeart Heartworm Injection is now approved to last 12 months. Imagine if your dog could get a “shot” when he had his annual exam and vaccines, and was protected against heartworms for a full 12 months! No pills to remember. I think a few clients would like to have another option.
ProHeart isn’t new, but it was previously labeled for 6 months, and has been in the US since 2008. The ProHeart 12 has been used in Australia since 2000 successfully and is the number one Heartworm prevention there. It is the number two Heartworm prevention worldwide.
I had decided previously to NOT use ProHeart 6 previously, but I will be offering ProHeart 12 when it becomes available in mid-August. My previous concern was the slightly less efficacy for intestinal parasites. ProHeart does control hookworms, but not roundworms or whipworms. Zoetis does offer to pay for any deworming treatments if dogs test + for hooks, rounds, or whips, just like other oral heartworm preventions. No preventative controls coccidia or giardia. Two of my staff members have worked in clinics that used ProHeart 6, with great experiences.
How does it work? The active ingredient in ProHeart 12 is moxidectin, in tiny time release spherules, that slowly release the moxidectin, not all at once. It is a thick solution, and is injected under the skin just like vaccines, not deep in a muscle. Very few dogs have reactions, and it is safe enough to give to any healthy dog at the same time as vaccines, with a current heartworm test.
What is the cost? For most dogs, the cost is about the same as a year’s supply of oral heartworm prevention.
What is the downside/reactions? ProHeart must be administered by a veterinarian after an exam to make sure they are healthy, and is based on an accurate weight. They must be an adult dog, not a growing puppy. The needle is larger than regular vaccines and might hurt a little more than a regular infection due to size. Adverse events are rare, between 1-10 per 10,000 doses given. The most common adverse events are vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Less commonly mild injection site reactions (warmth, swelling) have been noted in some dogs. In a field study, ProHeart 12 had a similar adverse events profile to Heartgard® Plus.
