Advantage II vs Heartgard Plus

Selecting the best parasite treatment or your dog can be a tall order. With the broad range of products available today, your decision is even tougher. A couple of the most-loved treatments are Advantage II and Heartgard Plus. These two products are similar in some ways, but are actually very different products. Take a look at the table and information below to decide if one or both of these products would be a good choice for your dog.

What makes Advantage II and Heartgard Plus different from one another?

For starters, let’s go over the similarities between these effective medications. Firstly, both of these products are top-quality, once-monthly heartworm preventatives. They are both safe for use in puppies. Heartgard Plus can be given to puppies starting at an age of 6 weeks, and Advantage II from 7 weeks. Both waterproof products are effective in preventing heartworm disease.

These two treatments are quite unique from one another. Advantage II also works to treat lice, kill flea eggs and larvae, and kill adult fleas. It is a topical treatment available over-the-counter. Heartgard Plus is a prescription-only oral medication administered medication that offers added protection against roundworms and hookworms.

Heartgard Plus is safe for use in pregnant or breeding female dogs. While Heartgard Plus is not formulated for use in cats, there is a separate feline formula of Heartgard available. Advantage II should only be used in a lactating, pregnant, or breeding dog with veterinary approval, and it is also available in a different formula made just for cats. Heartgard Plus contains Pyrantel Pamoate and Ivermectin, and Advantage II uses Pyriproxyfen and Imidacloprid.

Key takeaways on Advantage II vs. Heartgard Plus

As you can see, you can’t go wrong when choosing either of these incredible products to protect your dog against heartworms. However, there are a few considerations that might help you choose which product offers the added protections that benefit your dog most.

Firstly, if your dog is pregnant or breeding, you might choose Heartgard Plus. If you prefer a topical treatment, Advantage II may be your best option. If oral administration suits you and your dog best, you’ll probably be drawn to Heartgard Plus. If you’re looking to protect your dog against roundworm and hookworm infections, you may opt for Heartgard Plus. If you would prefer to treat lice and control fleas instead, Advantage II is a great way to do that.

After you’re carefully considered the pros and cons of these two treatments, it’s time to speak to your veterinarian. Your vet will be happy to help you decide which medication is best for your dog. If you leave your vet’s office and find yourself with any additional concerns or questions, just reach out to the Allivet pharmacists for a pet parent consultation!

Advantage II

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Heartgard Plus

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Feature Advantage II Heartgard Plus
Kills Fleas Yes No
Repels Fleas No No
Kills Flea Eggs and Larvae Yes No
Kills Ticks No No
Repels Ticks No No
Repels Mosquitoes No No
Prevents Heartworm Yes Yes
Other Parasites Treats lice Hookworms and roundworms
Waterproof Yes Yes
How Long to work Begins to kill fleas within 12 hours N/A
Taste N/A Beef flavored
Active Ingredient Imidacloprid and Pyriproxyfen Ivermectin and Pyrantel Pamoate
RX Required No Yes
Application Type Topical Chewable Tablet
Dosing 1 application per month 1 tablet per month
Age Dogs 7 weeks and older Dogs 6 weeks and older
Manufacturer Bayer Animal Health Boehringer Ingelheim
Safety Speak to your vet about risks associated with breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs Safe for pregnant or breeding females.

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