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TEST YOUR DOG FOR HEARTWORMS BEFORE STARTING ANY HEARTWORM SUPPLEMENTS. YOUR VET CAN DO THIS TEST FOR YOU. Heartworm disease is the potentially fatal condition where adult heartworms live in and clog a dog's heart, pulmonary arteries and blood vessels. This seriously impairs the operation of the heart and reduces the blood flow to other organs, particularly the lungs, liver and kidneys. Heartworm infestation may lead to heart failure and even sudden death. When a mosquito bites an infected dog during it's blood meal, it ingests some of the microscopic heartworms. Within two to three weeks, these heartworms mature into infective juveniles. These infective juveniles are introduced into a new dog the next time the mosquito feeds. Following infection, the juvenile heartworms grow and develop over two to three months in the muscle and fatty tissue of the dog. They then migrate to the right side of the heart and mature into males and females. The females then complete the lifecycle by releasing tiny immature heartworms, sometimes thousands at a time. Valuheart prevents heartworm disease in dogs by eliminating the heartworms during their development stage in the muscle and fatty tissue of the dog. Valuheart contains Ivermectin which is effective against the early immature stages of heartworm. Ivermectin is the leading monthly heartworm medication. Its safety and effectiveness have been proven for over a decade. When used as directed, Valuheart has a wide margin of safety for dogs of all breeds, including stud dogs, breeding bitches and puppies six weeks of age and older. Is it safe to switch to Valuheart from other brands of heartworm prevention? Yes. It is completely safe to switch from any form of heartworm prevention (daily, monthly or yearly) to Valuheart. With daily or monthly medications, give the first dose of Valuheart within one month of the last dose of the former medication. With yearly medications, give Valuheart within one month of when your dog is due for their next dose. As long as you continue to use Valuheart as directed, your dog will be protected from deadly heartworm disease. Should I have my dog tested on a regular basis? Yes. Although your dog may already be on a heartworm preventative, it is advisable to have them re-checked periodically to maintain your pet's health. In June 2005, the American Heartworm Society released in its guidelines that annual testing was necessary to ensure that any heartworm infections are caught in plenty of time to effectively manage such infections. How do I know if my dog has heartworm disease? It is very difficult to tell if your dog has heartworm disease, as symptoms of infestation do not usually become obvious until the disease is well advanced. Symptoms can include chronic coughing, weight loss, labored breathing, weakness, exercise intolerance and vomiting. Because of this, it is important to test your dog regularly for heartworm. If I use Valuheart, will I need to use a separate de-wormer for intestinal worms? Yes. Valuheart only prevents heartworms. You will need to use a separate de-wormer to treat for intestinal worms such as ascarids (roundworms), hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Does Valuheart contain any additional drugs or chemicals other than Ivermectin? No. Valuheart does not contain any additional drugs or chemicals. The only active ingredient in Valuheart is Ivermectin. Valuheart is not a combination product and does not contain any additional chemicals that may constitute over treating you dog at shorter intervals than required.
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