Heartworm Prevention
Struggletown Vet recommends a once yearly injection as best practice.
Why is this the best option for my dog?
A common question we receive is, why as an owner should I choose this for my dog?:
- Make parasite prevention easy, stress-free, and convenient – no more struggling to get your dog to eat chews, take tablets, or apply a spot-on correctly every single month, and NO WORRIES about missing a dose.
- 12 months guaranteed protection from heartworm using the gold standard in heartworm prevention – statistically, this is the most effective heartworm preventative on the market.
- A simple once yearly injection administered by a veterinary professional, and a once off cost.
- Reduce the risk of treatment costs for Heartworm – Heartworm treatment is expensive and prolonged, and the disease and treatment itself can be deadly.
- Extremely safe – We have been using this medication in this form for many many years, and it has one of the highest safety profiles on the market.
- It can easily be combined with your dog’s yearly vaccinations, or also our once yearly flea & tick preventative injection.
- 1 on 1 care with one of our vets to answer any of your questions during the visit.
- In fact, for a limited time we are offering an amazing deal and savings for anyone wanting to switch across to this product for their dog’s current heartworm prevention:
- Come in anytime between now and June 30th and mention this offer to switch your dog from MONTHLY prevention to the simple and effective ONCE YEARLY HEARTWORM INJECTION.
- Receive a FREE heartworm test to ensure your dog is healthy (normal value $85).
- Receive a year’s worth of FREE intestinal worming tablets (normal value between $38-$117 depending on the size of your dog).
The Dangers of Heartworm & the facts
- In Australia, Heartworm is one of the most dangerous parasites around.
- It is spread by mosquitoes (even one tiny bite) which are present all year round here in Sydney.
- The tiny worms enter the bloodstream and grow into adult worms which lodge in your dog’s heart.
- Clinical signs sometimes take years to develop, so your dog can have the disease without you knowing.
- This disease can unfortunately kill dogs!
- Treatment is difficult and expensive and prolonged – with a full treatment course lasting one year.
Prevention is definitely better than cure in this case. Our team of vets can now give you peace of mind all year long with 12 months Heartworm protection in just one dose.
Phone our friendly team now on (02) 9398 8000 for more information and to make a booking!
Frequently Asked Questions
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What parasite prevention does my dog need in Randwick?
Dogs living in Randwick and Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs should be protected against fleas, paralysis ticks, heartworm and intestinal worms. Parasites are present throughout the year in Sydney, and some — particularly paralysis ticks and heartworm — can cause serious or life-threatening disease.
At Struggletown, our preferred program for many adult dogs is once-yearly Bravecto flea and tick protection, once-yearly ProHeart heartworm prevention, and regular intestinal worming. We recommend intestinal worming every three months for most adult dogs, although some higher-risk dogs may require more frequent treatment. Our puppy program starts parasite prevention early and continues it throughout life.
Does my indoor cat still need parasite prevention?
Yes. Indoor cats generally have a lower parasite risk than cats that roam outdoors, but they are not completely protected. Fleas can be brought into the home by other animals or people, mosquitoes can enter the house, and intestinal worms may be acquired through fleas or other sources. Even access to balcony areas or just the backyard for short periods will increase the risk of access to parasites
At Struggletown, we recommend year-round flea prevention and regular intestinal worming for all cats. Our standard kitten program progresses to intestinal worming every three months for life. For cats that go outdoors or visit areas where paralysis ticks occur, we also recommend ongoing tick prevention.
How often should I worm my dog or cat?
Puppies and kittens require frequent worming while they are young because intestinal parasites are particularly common at this stage of life.
At Struggletown, we recommend worming puppies and kittens at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age, then monthly until six months old, followed by every three months for life with an appropriate intestinal all-wormer.
Some pets have a higher parasite risk and may need more frequent treatment — for example, dogs that eat raw offal or live on farms, and cats that hunt or spend significant time outdoors. The correct frequency also depends on exactly what parasites the product you are using covers.
Does my dog need heartworm prevention?
Yes. We recommend lifelong, year-round heartworm prevention for dogs. Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, and infected worms develop in the heart and major blood vessels where they can cause severe heart and lung disease. Because infection may be present for a long time before obvious signs develop, prevention is far preferable to treating established disease which can be deadly.
At Struggletown, our preferred option is ProHeart, a long-acting injection that provides 12 months of protection in adult dogs. Puppies begin their ProHeart program at approximately three months, receive another dose at six months, and then move to annual treatment.
Can I give flea, tick and worm treatments together?
Usually, yes — but it depends on the products being used. Many modern parasite preventatives are designed either to be given together or to protect against several parasites in a single treatment.
For dogs, for example, Struggletown’s annual ProHeart heartworm injection can be given alongside the annual Bravecto flea and tick injection, with intestinal worming continued separately as required.
For cats, some combination products make parasite prevention even simpler. If application every 3 months makes things easier for you, then using Bravecto Spot-on + an intestinal allwormer (tablet or spot-on) every 3 months is easy and effective. Alternatively, NexGard Spectra spot-on, is used every month to protect against fleas and paralysis ticks as well as heartworm and major intestinal worms, including tapeworm.
Because different products overlap in what they treat, it is important not to simply add treatments together without checking first. Bring us the names or photographs of the products you are using and we can make sure there are no unnecessary duplications or gaps in protection.
Which parasite treatment is right for my pet?
There is no single parasite treatment that is ideal for every dog or cat. We consider your pet’s species, age, weight, lifestyle, outdoor access, travel, hunting habits and local parasite risk, as well as which treatment you are most likely to give reliably.
For many adult dogs, our preferred simple program is the annual ProHeart heartworm injection + annual Bravecto flea/tick injection + regular intestinal worming.
For cats, our program is tailored more closely to lifestyle. Options include 3-monthly Bravecto spot-on for fleas and ticks with separate intestinal worming, or monthly NexGard Spectra spot-on, which provides broader parasite coverage in a single treatment.
Cats that go outdoors have greater exposure to paralysis ticks and other parasites, so their prevention program is particularly important. Never use a dog flea or tick product on a cat unless your veterinarian has specifically told you it is safe. Some dog products containing permethrin can cause severe poisoning and may be fatal to cats.
Get In Touch!
Address:
148 Barker St,
Randwick NSW 2031
Hours:
Mon to Fri: 7:30am - 9:00pm
Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sun: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Providing Quality Vet Care Near:
Randwick, Coogee, Kingsford, Daceyville, Kensington, Bronte, Waverley, Queens Park, East Gardens, Pagewood, Hillsdale, Maroubra.