Interceptor Plus vs Iverhart Max

Protecting your dog against parasites and heartworms plays an essential role in keeping your pup healthy and happy. Two of the most well-liked products available today are Interceptor Plus and Iverhart Max. Each of these unique products works differently to protect your pet. These key differences can be helpful when you’re choosing between these incredible products. See the table and information below to learn how they compare!

How do Interceptor Plus and Iverhart Max differ?

Both of these products work differently to accomplish many common goals - protecting your dog against dangerous heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. Both products are chewable, once-monthly, prescription-only tablets, with Interceptor Plus offering a chicken flavor and Iverhart Max featuring a pork and beef flavor.

These formulas are both safe for use in puppies. Interceptor Plus can be administered to puppies over 6 weeks old weighing a minimum of 2 pounds, and Iverhart Max is safe for puppies over the age of 8 weeks with a minimum of 6 pounds. While Iverhart max is not, Interceptor Plus is safe for use in breeding, lactating, and pregnant dogs.

Interceptor Plus contains Praziquantel and Milbemycin Oxime. This duo of active ingredients offers protection against the aforementioned parasites, along with whipworms. Iverhart Max contains three active ingredients - Ivermectin, Pyrantel Pamoate, and Praziquantel. These ingredients team up to offer added protection against ticks, adult fleas, flea larvae, and flea eggs.

For a cat-safe heartworm preventative, be sure to take a look at Interceptor for Dogs and Cats.

What’s the best way to choose between Interceptor Plus and Iverhart Max?

If you’re on the hunt for a safe, effective, and reliable heartworm preventative, you’ve found two of the best ones on the market. Both providing protection against a variety of intestinal parasites, these formulas are comparable in many ways. However, their differences can help you make the decision that best suits your dog.

If you have a puppy between 6 and 8 weeks old and over 2 pounds, Interceptor Plus is a great choice. If you would like to provide your dog with protection against whipworm infections, you might opt for Interceptor Plus. If your dog isn’t currently taking a flea and tick preventative, you’ll likely love the convenient, broad-spectrum protection provided by Iverhart Max.

Talk to your veterinarian to decide if either of these medications is right for your dog. Be sure to get your prescriptions at Allivet, where you’ll find the lowest prices on all of your favorite medications, supplies, supplements, and other products! If you have any questions about these or any other Allivet product, our pharmacists are standing by for pet parent consultations.

Feature Interceptor Plus Iverhart Max
Kills Fleas No No
Repels Fleas No No
Kills Flea Eggs and Larvae No No
Kills Ticks No No
Repels Ticks No No
Repels Mosquitoes No No
Prevents Heartworm Yes Yes
Other Parasites Hookworms, Roundworms, Tapeworms and Whipworms Hookworms, Tapeworms and Roundworms
Waterproof Yes since taken orally Yes
How Long to work N/A N/A
Taste Chicken Flavor Pork and Beef Flavor
Active Ingredient Milbemycin Oxime and Praziquantel Ivermectin, Pyrantel Pamoate and Praziquantel
RX Required Yes Yes
Application Type Chewable Tablet Chewable Tablet
Dosing 1 tablet per month 1 tablet per month
Age Dogs ages 6 weeks and 2lbs or more Dogs ages 8 weeks and weigh at least 6lbs
Manufacturer Elanco Virbac
Safety Breeding, pregnant, and lactating dogs may use. The safe use of this drug has not been evaluated in pregnant or lactating dogs.