Some people still have not heard of Heartworm. And then those who have heard of it don't always use preventative against it. It is so very simple. When you purchase the medication, they give you stickers that you affix to your calendar as a reminder for when it is due each month. There is even a sticker that reminds you when it is time to visit your vet for a refill.

There is the Heartgard, Sentinel, and Interceptor. Each is slightly different.

Heartgard: 136 mcg ivermectin and 114 mg pyrantel as pamoate salt; prevents heartworm disease; treats and controls ascarid and hookworm infections in dogs

Interceptor: prevents heartworm disease; Milbemycin oxime consists of the oxime derivatives of 5-didehydromilbemycins in the ratio of approximately 80% A₄ (C₃₂ H₄₅ NO₇, MW 555.71) and 20% A₃ (C₃₁ H₄₃ NO₇, MW 541.68) controls adult hookworm imfection; removes and controls adult roundworms and whipworms in dogs

Sentinel: prevents heartworm disease; controls flea populations and adult hookworms, and remove and control adult roundworm and whipworm infections in dogs and puppies.; 0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) of milbemycin oxime and 4.55 mg/lb (10 mg/kg) of lufenuron-- Milbemycin oxime consists of the oxime derivatives of 5-didehydromilbemycins in the ratio of approximately 80% A4 (C32H45NO7, MW 555.71) and 20% A3 (C31H43NO7, MW 541.68). Milbemycin oxime is classified as a macrocyclic anthelmintic. Lufenuron is a benzoylphenylurea derivative with the following chemical composition: N-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3,-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenylaminocarbonyl] -2,6- difluorobenzamide (C17H8Cl2F8N2O3, MW 511.15). Benzoylphenyl urea compounds, including lufenuron, are classified as insect development inhibitors (IDIs).

For more detailed information on Heartworm, you may wish to visit some other sites on the topic:

Heartworm Disease

Dog Owner's Guide: Heartworm Disease

Walter Reed Biosytematics Unit

The Heartworm

Heartworm

Heartworm Prevention

Providence Animal Control Center

Vet Talk

Heartworm Treatment

Heartworm Disease

HEARTWORM PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Mosquito-borne Dog Heartworm Disease

Feline Heartworm Disease

Feline Heartworm Disease Part 4 of 4

Can My Dog Get Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm Disease: Cats Are At Risk, Too

ANTINEMATODALS

ANTINEMATODALS TOXICITY

I know that this is a lot of information, and many of the sites repeat information, but if nothing else, maybe by seeing what has been researched and written about will convince someone out there that they should protect their pets from the potentially deadly bite of the mosquitoe. Whatever you do, please, please, please keep your pets on preventative medications against the heartworm if there is not a medical reason for not doing so. Having rescued so very many dogs over the years that we have had to have treated for heartworm disease, we know the toll it has taken on the dogs, as well as the pocket. It is much cheaper health wise and money wise to just prevent the disease than to have to cure it.