Environmental Exposure: Preventative Medications & How They Benefit Your Pet
by Brooke Ann Lipinski | Monday, January 15th, 2025
If you have a companion animal, be it canine or feline, you have probably discussed preventative medication in passing at their annual wellness examinations with your primary care veterinarian. In this article, Brooke aims to clarify the full benefits of these crucially protective medications, and emphasize the importance of maintaining consistent administration routines for the safety of not only your own pets, but your community at large.
There is an age-old adage that states “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Preventative medications are an integral part of maintaining your pet’s long-term health and wellness, but what about them makes them so important?
Aside from your companion animal’s annual vaccinations (such as Distemper, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, & Rabies with canines; and FVRCP & Rabies vaccinations in felines), your veterinarian will likely recommend antiparasitics to aid in the preventative treatment of fleas and ticks, as well as heartworms and the diseases correlated with heartworm contraction. For canines, these includes prescriptions such as Simparica TRIO, Interceptor/Interceptor Plus, Heartgard/NexGard, Bravecto, and Advantage Multi, among many others, such as injectable preventative ProHeart. For felines, most primary care veterinarians recommend the topical preventative medication known as Revolution Plus. In both felines and canines, these are prescribed according to your pet’s weight class, to ensure optimal efficacy of the medication. Antiparasitics are essential in mitigating concerns of flea, tick, and heartworm contraction in companion animals, aiding in the prevention of the contraction of diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, and Ehrlichiosis - all disease which are contracted by fleas (Nelson, 2020).
Understanding the benefits of each kind of preventative medication will help owners understand how to make the best informed decision for the health and well-being of their beloved companion animals. Let’s go through each of the examples listed above, and discuss in further detail their benefits, differences from one another, as well as their advantages versus disadvantages.
CANINE PREVENTATIVE MEDICATIONS
SIMPARICA TRIO: If you are a dog owner, chances are this name is familiar to you. Many primary care veterinarians recommend Simparica TRIO due to its optimal, full-spectrum coverage of all flea, tick, and heartworm strains, with no reported heartworm resistance (Mathur, et al., 2023). Simparica TRIO is a small tablet that many dogs will eat as easily as they would their favorite treat. However, the texture of this particular medication can be described as a bit chalky, which some canines have an aversion to. If your dog should resistant administration of this particular preventative medication, you could consider exploring other options for flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.
HEARTGARD / NEXGARD: Both of these medications offer effective protection against heartworms and a variety of intestinal parasites. Heartgard is a chewable tablet that protects against heartworms and treats roundworms and hookworms. NexGard, on the other hand, provides protection against fleas and ticks, as well as heartworms when used in conjunction with a separate heartworm preventative. While these medications are highly effective, it is important to keep in mind that they are typically prescribed separately for flea/tick and heartworm protection, unlike some all-in-one options like Simparica TRIO.
BRAVECTO: Bravecto is a chewable tablet that provides extended protection (up to 3 months) against fleas and ticks. This medication is especially popular among pet owners who prefer fewer doses per year. Bravecto works rapidly to kill fleas and ticks, preventing infestations and the spread of tick-borne diseases. However, its effectiveness for heartworm prevention is limited, so it needs to be paired with a heartworm preventive if used on its own.
ADVANTAGE MULTI: Advantage Multi is a topical solution that protects against a broad range of parasites, including fleas, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. This medication is especially suitable for pet owners who prefer a topical application instead of a chewable tablet. However, it is important to be cautious when applying the medication, as some dogs may experience mild skin irritation at the application site.
PROHEART (Injectable): ProHeart is an injectable heartworm preventative that provides protection for 6 or 12 months, depending on the specific product used. This is an excellent option for owners who prefer not to have to remember monthly doses of oral medication. ProHeart is highly effective at preventing heartworm infection, but it does not offer protection against fleas and ticks, so it must be paired with another flea/tick preventative.
Consult with your veterinarian about which preventative medication works best for you, your pet, and your shared lifestyle together.
FELINE PREVENTATIVE MEDICATIONS
REVOLUTION PLUS: Revolution Plus is a topical medication that provides comprehensive protection for cats against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites, including roundworms and hookworms. This all-in-one solution is a favorite among cat owners because of its ease of application and wide-ranging protection. It is typically applied once a month and is effective at preventing not only external parasites like fleas and ticks, but also heartworm disease, which is important for pet cats who may be at risk of heartworm exposure from mosquito bites. However, as with all medications, it is essential to use the correct dose based on your cat's weight for optimal effectiveness.
References
Nelson, K. (2020, March 25). Why you need to stay current on flea, Tick, and Heartworm Protection. PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/why-you-need-stay-current-flea-tick-and-heartworm-protection
Mathur, S., Malpas, P. B., Mahabir, S., & et al. (2023). Safety of Simparica Trio® (sarolaner, pyrantel, moxidectin) in heartworm-infected dogs. Parasites & Vectors, 16, 119. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05700-9
Letting your kitty play outside? Don’t forget to make sure they’ve gotten their monthly Revolution Plus first, and never leave pets unsupervised for any amount of time when outdoors!
