Tri-Heart Plus for Dogs

Tri-Heart Plus for dogs is a heartworm preventative that also controls roundworms and hookworms. Tri-Heart Plus is a generic equivalent to Heartgard Plus, and requires a prescription from your veterinarian. It has the same active ingredients and is the same strength. Tri-Heart Plus is considered to be the #1 generic heartworm preventative recommended by veterinarians.

Key Benefits

• Tasty flavored chewable tablets
• Easy to administer
• Small, easy-to-chew tablet for smaller or finicky dogs
• Given once a month

Indication:

Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets are indicated for use in prevention of canine heartworm caused by Dirofilaria immitis and for the treatment and control of ascarids (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina) and hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma braziliense) in dogs and in puppies six weeks of age.

How It Works

Tri-Heart Plus is used in the prevention of heartworm infection and the control and treatment of various other worm infections. Tri-Heart Plus contains two active ingredients: ivermectin, which interferes with the parasite's nerve transmission, causing paralysis and death of the immature heartworms (larvae), and Pyrantel pamoate, which also interferes with the parasite's nerve transmission, causes paralysis and death of intestinal worms.

View Tri-Heart Plus Drug Facts Sheet.

Tri-Heart Plus ivermectin/pyrantel chewable tablets should be administered orally at monthly intervals at the recommended minimum dose level of 6 mcg of ivermectin per kilogram (2.72 mcg/lb) and 5 mg of pyrantel (as pamoate salt) per kg (2.27 mg/lb) of body weight. The recommended dosing schedule for prevention of canine heartworm disease and for the treatment and control of ascarids and hookworms is as follows:

Tri-Heart Plus ivermectin/pyrantel cewable tablets are recommended for dogs 6 weeks of age and older. For dogs over 100 lbs. use the appropriate combination of these tablets.

Administration:

Remove only one chewable tablet at a time from the blister card. Because most dogs find Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets palatable, the product can be offered to the dog by hand. Alternatively, it may be added intact to a small amount of dry food or placed in the back of the dog's mouth for forced swallowing.

Care should be taken that the dog consumes the complete dose, and 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 is recommended.

Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets should be given at monthly intervals during the period of the year when mosquitoes (vectors), potentially carrying infective heartworm larvae, are active. The initial dose must be given within a month (30 days) after the dog's first exposure to mosquitoes.

When replacing another heartworm preventive product in a heartworm disease preventive program, the first dose of Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets must be given within a month (30 days) of the last dose of the former medication.

If the interval between doses exceed a month (30 days), the efficacy of ivermectin can be reduced. Therefore, for optimal performance, the chewable tablet must be given once a month on or about the same day of the month. If treatment is delayed, whether by a few days or many immediate treatment with Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets and resumption of the recommended dosing regimen minimizes the opportunity for the development of adult heartworms.

Monthly treatment with Tri-Heart Plus Chewable tablets also provides effective treatment and control of ascarids (T. canis, T. leonina) and hookworms (A. caninum, U. stenocephala, A. braziliense). Clients should be advised of measures to be taken to prevent reinfection with intestinal parasites.

Efficacy:

Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets given orally sung the recommended dose and regimen, are effective against the tissue larval stage of D. immitis for a month (30 days) after infection and, as a result, prevent the development of the adult state. Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets are also effective against canine ascarids (T. canis, T. leonina) and hookworms (A. caninum, U. stenocephala, A. braciliense).

Acceptability:

In acceptability trials, Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets were shown to be a palatable oral dosage form that was consumed at first offering by the majority of dogs.

Precautions:

All dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection before starting treatment with Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets which are not effective against adult D. immitis. Infected dogs must be treated to remove adult heartworms and microfilariae before initiating a program with Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets.

While some microfilariae may be killed by the ivermectin in Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets at the recommended dose level, Tri-Heart Plus chewable tablets are not effective for microfilariae clearance. A mild hypersensitivity-type reaction, presumably due to dead or dying microfilariae and particularly involving a transient diarrhea has been observed in clinical trials with ivermectin alone after treatment of some dogs that have circulating microfilariae.

Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. In case of ingestion by humans, clients should be advice concerning cases of ingestion by humans.

Storage:

Store at controlled room temperature of 59-86° (15-30° C). Protect product from light.

Adverse Reactions:

In clinical field trials with ivermectin/pyrantel, vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours of dosing was rarely observed (1.1% of administered doses). The following adverse reactions have been reported following the use of ivermectin at the recommended dose: depression/lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, mydriasis, ataxia, staggering, convulsions and hypersalivation.

Safety:

Studies with ivermectin indicate that certain dogs of the Collie breed are more sensitive to the effects of ivermectin administered at elevated dose levels (more than 16 times the target use level of 6 mcg/kg) than dogs of other breeds. At elevated doses, sensitive dogs showed adverse reactions which included mydriasis, depression, ataxia, tremors, drooling, paresis, recumbency, excitability, stupor, coma and death. Ivermectin demonstrated no signs of toxicity at 10 times the recommended dose (60 mcg/kg) in sensitive Collies. Results of these trials and bioequivalency studies support the safety of ivermectin products in dogs, including Collies, when used as recommended.

Ivermectin/pyrantel has shown a wide margin of safety at the recommended dose level in dogs, including pregnant or breeding bitches, stud dogs and puppies aged 6 or more weeks. In clinical trials, many commonly used flea collars, dips, shampoos, anthelmintics, antibiotics, vaccines and steroid preparations have been administered with ivermectin/pyrantel in a heartworm disease preventive program.

In one trial, where some pups had parvovirus, there was a marginal reduction in efficacy against intestinal nematodes, possibly due to a change in intestinal transit time.