Generic Heartgard--does it Work?

For dog and cat fans, heartworms can be a scary illness. It's a disease that affects a growing number of our pets year after year.

Some die from it. And, as a result, many heartworm preventative medicines pop up on the market to help protect our pets against this serious illness.

Heartgard is one of the most popularly sold heartworm preventative medicines among dog and cat owners. It is also one of the most highly recommended medicines among veterinarians. But…many dog and cat owners complain that Heartgard is too overpriced. So, they turn to more affordable medicines that better work with their budget.

Is generic Heartgard worth 'the risk'?

When money's hard to come by, the availability of a generic Heartgard can be a real benefit. But let the buyer beware. There are some implications and considerations for pet owners to keep in mind pertaining to generic Heartgard.

Because the costs of pet medications are steep we tend to resort to buying generic Heartgards that may not be as efficient as the regular Heartgard—even though the generic may be a registered version.

While some types of generic Heartgard are FDA sanctioned, know that there are also several illegal forms of generic Heartgard in circulation. These generic are not registered in the United States and they are not FDA sanctioned—even though their packaging may resemble the branded Heartgard.

Even some registered generic Heartgard competitors failed to write an FDA sanctioned label, warning against human consumption, especially among children.

Moreover understand that the metric doses employed in some generic Heartgard medicines can be confusing, and could lead to an overdose (or underdose) of the generic Heartgard if ingested by your pets.

Moreover, because some generic Heartgard are unregistered and not FDA sanctioned (and look so similar to branded Heartgard), unknown ingredients may be dangerous to your pet.

Ivermectin is the chief proven ingredient employed in branded Heartgard to protect and control heartworms in pets. Registered, FDA sanctioned generic Heartgard competitors understand this and use the same chief ingredient. The contrast is in the little 'filler' ingredients used in the generic Heartgard products.

Fact: Know that even online sites will require proof of prescription before they will ship you medicine. The easiest way to get a prescription is from your local, licensed veterinarian.

In the end, the final choice in deciding what's best for your dog or cat's health will be up to you. Use the tips in this article to find the best course of action for and find yourself sleeping a little better at night.

To learn how you can find great deals on Heartgard products, visit http://www.MyPetShed.com/ where you'll find everything you need to know about Heartgard Plus and much more.