Dossage and Administration: Cat Weight lb HEARTGARD for Cats Chewables per month Ivermectin content up to 5 1 55 mcg 5 to 15 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. 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 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.

 

HEARTGARD 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, HEARTGARDŽ 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 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 HEARTGARDŽ for Cats.

 

Cats already infected with adult heartworms can safely be given HEARTGARDŽ for Cats monthly to prevent further infections. Monthly treatment with HEARTGARDŽ for Cats also provides effective removal and control of adult and immature hookworms (A tubaeforme and A braziliense). Precaution(s): HEARTGARDŽ Chewables for Cats are stable for 2 years when stored below 30°C and protected from light. Store at controlled room temperature of 59°-86°F (15°-30°C).

 

Caution(s): Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian Safety:

In the clinical studies involving more that 3000 doses of HEARTGARDŽ for Cats, observations reported with 24 hours of treatment included vomition in ≤ 0.3% and diarrhea in ≤ 0.2% of the doses administered. There were no statistical differences between HEARTGARDŽ for Cats and the product vehicle (control) for these observations. A wide margin of safety was demonstrated in clinical trials at the recommended dose level in cats and kittens 6 weeks of age and older and in laboratory studies in cats with circulating microfilariae of D immitis.