Heartgard Chew for Cats, 5-15 lbs, (Purple Box), 6 Chews (6-mos. supply)

Heartgard is a heartworm preventative that kills feline heartworms and helps to control and treat hookworms. Given monthly, it comes in a chewable that you can feed to your pal as a tasty, beef-flavored treat. If your cat has a tendency to swallow her food or treats whole, you can break each tablet into small pieces for easier feeding.

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Specifications

Item Number : 146385
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Ingredients

Ingredients
165 mcg Ivermectin.

Instructions

Recommended Dosage
HEARTGARD (ivermectin) Chewables for Cats should be administered orally at monthly intervals at the recommended minimum dose level of 24 mcg of ivermectin per kg (10.9 mcg/lb.) of body weight. The recommended dosage schedule for prevention of feline heartworm disease and control of hookworm is for cats 5 to 15 lb give a 165 mcg ivermectin chewable. For cats over 15 lb., consult your veterinarian. HEARTGARD Chewables 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 Chewables 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 Chewables 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 cats first exposure to mosquitoes. The final dose must be given within a month (30 days) after the cats last exposure to mosquitoes. For optimal performance,
HEARTGARD 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 Chewables 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 HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats. Cats already infected with adult heartworms can be given HEARTGARD for Cats monthly to prevent further infections. Monthly treatment with HEARTGARD Chewables for Cats also provides effective removal and control of adult and immature hookworms (A. tubaeforme and A. braziliense).

Storage Instructions
Store at controlled room temperature of 68 F – 77 F (20 C – 25 C). Excursions between 59 F –
86 F (15 C – 30 C) are permitted.

FAQ

**What are the Key Benefits of Heartgard?**

* Beef-flavored chewable to be given monthly

* Prevents heartworm from developing inside cats

* Safeguards against further heartworm infection

* Treats and controls hookworms

* FDA approved

**What is heartworm disease?**

Heartworm disease in cats (dirofilariasis) is a serious and potentially fatal disease. Heartworms spend their adult lives in the pulmonary arteries. The adult worms can cause lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries.

**How do cats get heartworms?**

Heartworms are transmitted from one cat to another by mosquitoes, which pick up tiny immature heartworms, called microfilariae, when they bite an infected cat. Larvae develop and are then transmitted to another cat when that cat is bitten by the infected mosquito.

**Where are cats at risk for heartworm infection?**

All cats are at risk for heartworm disease, no matter where they live—heartworms don’t discriminate based on geography. In the past, heartworm disease in the United States was primarily limited to the South and Southeast regions. However, it is now found in all 50 states, in Canada, and is spreading to new areas each year. The American Heartworm Society notes that uncared-for cats and certain wildlife can be carriers of heartworms. Mosquitoes blown great distances by the wind and the transportation of infected pets to different geographic locations can all contribute to the spread of heartworm disease.

**What are the signs of heartworm infection?**

Signs of heartworm disease can be subtle and difficult to detect until its later stages. As the disease progresses, signs begin to appear. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice coughing, difficulty breathing, sluggishness and less energy for exercise in your cat. Adult heartworms cause serious harm to your cat’s heart, lungs and certain internal organs. Left untreated, heartworm disease can result in loss of consciousness and death.

**How are cats tested for heartworm infection?**

The most common method for heartworm testing is for a veterinarian to collect a small blood sample from a cat and evaluate the sample using a specialized test kit to detect the presence of adult heartworms.

**How can heartworm disease in cats be prevented?**

Pet owners can use Heartgard (ivermectin) to help prevent heartworm disease. Heartgard kills tissue larval stages of heartworms and helps prevent them from developing into adults and causing heartworm disease. In an unprotected cat, heartworm larvae mature into adults and ultimately migrate to the arteries of the lungs.

**How long do I have to give my cat Heartgard?**

Monthly use of Heartgard is essential because it cannot be determined with certainty when the threat of mosquitoes has passed. Talk to your veterinarian for dose and regimen recommendations.

**Can heartworm disease be treated?**

Although it is possible to treat heartworm disease if a cat becomes infected, it is difficult, expensive and risky, particularly in cats that have begun to exhibit clinical signs of infection.

**What if my cat becomes infected with heartworms?**

There are treatment options available to kill adult heartworms in cats that have become infected. Treating cats with heartworm disease starts with a thorough physical examination by the veterinarian. The veterinarian will then discuss treatment options with you. Typically, the cat is hospitalized during the treatment period. Because there is a risk of blood clots or worm debris blocking blood vessels from adult heartworm treatment, the cat must then remain quiet in close confinement for another 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. A second round of treatment may be required for some cats. The veterinarian may also give your cat a treatment to rid it of the immature larvae that are circulating through the blood stream.

**Is Heartgard safe to use in any breed of cat?**

Heartgard is safe and effective in any breed of cat when used as directed.

**Can my cat “get” heartworm disease directly from an infected cat?**

No, the way cats become infected is via a bite from a mosquito that is carrying heartworm larvae.

**Are nursing kittens immune to heartworm disease if the mother is receiving Heartgard?**

No. kittens that are nursing may become infected. Heartgard can be used in kittens as young as 6 weeks of age—and kittens benefit from the ability of Heartgard to treat and control roundworms and hookworms.

**What is the best number to call regarding any specific product questions?**

For any specific product questions, please call Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s customer service line number at 1-888-637-4251.