Does dewormer kill heartworms? While dewormers are effective against intestinal parasites, they do not treat heartworm infections in dogs. Heartworm disease requires specialized medication, as regular dewormers cannot target heartworms. Does dewormer kill heartworms? Understanding the difference between dewormers and heartworm preventatives is crucial for proper treatment. For effective heartworm prevention, heartworm-specific medications like Heartgard are necessary, not regular dewormers.

What Are Dewormers and How Do They Work?

Dewormers are medications used to treat a variety of intestinal parasites in pets, particularly dogs. These parasites can include worms like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms. Dewormers are designed to eliminate these intestinal parasites, either by killing the worms directly or by preventing them from reproducing.

Purpose of Regular Dewormers

The main purpose of regular dewormers is to maintain a dog’s digestive health by eliminating parasitic worms from the intestines. Worm infestations can cause discomfort, malnutrition, and serious health problems if left untreated.

Common Intestinal Parasites Targeted by Dewormers

Regular dewormers are most effective against common intestinal parasites such as:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Tapeworms
• Whipworms

How Dewormers Kill and Expel Worms

Dewormers typically contain active ingredients that paralyze or kill the worms, allowing the dog’s body to expel them through the digestive system. The exact mechanism depends on the type of dewormer used and the specific parasite it targets.

Does Dewormer Kill Heartworms?

Heartworms are a completely different type of parasite that reside in the heart and lungs of affected dogs. While dewormers are effective against intestinal parasites, they do not kill heartworms.

Why Regular Dewormers Do Not Treat Heartworms

Regular dewormers are formulated to target parasites in the gastrointestinal tract, not the circulatory system where heartworms live. As such, they have no effect on heartworms or their larvae. Treating heartworm infection requires a specialized approach that involves heartworm-specific medications.

Differences Between Intestinal Worms and Heartworms

The key difference lies in where these worms live and how they interact with the body. Intestinal worms live in the digestive system, whereas heartworms live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, making them far more dangerous and difficult to treat.

Heartworm-Specific Medications vs. Dewormers

Heartworm prevention and treatment are highly specialized and differ significantly from regular deworming.

What Is a Heartworm Dewormer?

A heartworm dewormer is a term some people may use to describe heartworm prevention medications. These medications, such as ivermectin, milbemycin oxime, and moxidectin, are used to kill heartworm larvae before they can grow into adult worms. These are not standard dewormers but specific treatments designed to target heartworms.

Medications Used for Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm prevention medications are designed to kill the larvae of the heartworms before they can mature into adult worms. The most common medications used for this purpose include:

• Heartgard (ivermectin)
• Interceptor (milbemycin oxime)
• Revolution (selamectin)
• ProHeart (moxidectin)

Treatments for Dogs Already Infected with Heartworms

For dogs already infected with heartworms, a much more aggressive and expensive treatment is needed. Melarsomine is the drug used for adult heartworm treatment, which is administered by a veterinarian under strict supervision due to its potential side effects.

Does Heartworm Treatment Kill Other Worms?

Heartworm medications are designed to treat heartworm infestations, but they may have some effect on other worms, though they are not the primary treatment for those parasites.

Differences in Medication Formulations

Heartworm medications are specifically formulated to target heartworm larvae and adult heartworms. In contrast, medications for intestinal parasites are designed to work in the digestive tract and will not be effective against heartworms.

When Heartworm Prevention Might Affect Other Parasites

Some heartworm preventatives may also help prevent or treat intestinal parasites. For example, medications like Heartgard Plus contain both ivermectin (for heartworms) and pyrantel pamoate (for intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms).

Will Heartgard Kill Existing Worms?

Heartgard is a popular heartworm preventative, but it is not designed to treat worms already present in the dog’s system.

Understanding How Heartworm Prevention Works

Heartworm prevention works by killing the larvae of the heartworm before they can mature into adult worms, preventing the development of heartworm disease.

Can Heartgard Kill Heartworm Larvae?

Yes, Heartgard is designed to kill heartworm larvae (L3 and L4 stages) that are transmitted through mosquito bites. However, it cannot treat adult heartworms that are already present in the dog’s system.

Does Heartworm Prevention Kill Worms Already Present?

No, heartworm preventatives like Heartgard will not kill adult heartworms or worms that are already present in the heart or lungs. It only kills the early-stage larvae.

Does Heartworm Medicine Kill Tapeworms?

Heartworm preventatives are not effective against tapeworms.

Why Tapeworms Require Different Treatment

Tapeworms live in the intestines and are often transmitted through fleas or ingestion of infected rodents. They require a different treatment, typically using praziquantel, which targets tapeworms directly.

Effective Dewormers for Tapeworms

For tapeworms, medications like Drontal or Droncit (praziquantel) are typically recommended to eliminate the infection.

Does Heartworm Prevention Kill Other Worms?

Some heartworm preventatives also target other parasites, though not all heartworm preventatives have this dual purpose.

Medications That Prevent Both Heartworms and Intestinal Parasites

There are combination medications that can prevent both heartworms and intestinal parasites. Examples include:

• Heartgard Plus (ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate)
• Revolution (selamectin – prevents fleas, heartworms, and some intestinal parasites)
• Interceptor Plus (milbemycin oxime and praziquantel)

Combination Dewormers and Heartworm Preventatives

These combination medications provide broader protection against multiple parasites, saving time and money compared to administering separate treatments for each type of parasite.

Choosing the Right Medication for Your Dog

When selecting a heartworm preventative, consult with your veterinarian to determine the most suitable option based on your dog’s health, risk of infection, and any existing parasite problems.

Conclusion: Do You Need Both Heartworm Prevention and Dewormers?

Both heartworm prevention and dewormers are essential for maintaining your dog’s health, but they serve different purposes. Heartworm preventatives should be used regularly to prevent heartworm disease, while dewormers are necessary for treating and preventing intestinal worm infestations.

The Importance of Comprehensive Parasite Control

By using both types of medication, you ensure that your dog is protected against a wide variety of parasites, reducing the risk of serious health problems.

Consulting Your Veterinarian for the Right Treatment

Always consult your veterinarian for advice on the best parasite control plan for your dog. They can help you choose the right medications to address both heartworm prevention and intestinal parasite issues effectively.

FAQs

Next Step:

For more detailed information on the specific treatments for dogs already infected with heartworms and how they are administered, visit our article on Heartworm Treatment for Dogs.

References:

1. American Heartworm Society – Heartworm Disease
2. Veterinary Partner – Dewormers and Heartworm Medications