Confused about heartworm prevention options? These two charts compare current heartworm preventive products side by side to assist you in determining which is right for your situation.
In the second chart, LD50 stands for lethal dose to 50 percent of a population. Typically lethal doses are expressed as oral (toxin taken by mouth) or by dermal (toxin placed on the skin). LD50s are usually determined with lab animal species such as rats, mice, and rabbits, but occasionally information is available for dogs. LD50s are expressed in milligrams of ingredient per kilogram of animal body weight (i.e. mg/kg) and provides a way to compare the toxicity of different substances.
The higher the LD50, the less toxic a substance is. Some of the materials reviewed here are so safe that LD50 has not been determined and we can only say that it is greater than a certain amount tested. The highest numbers represent the safest numbers.
Not all products listed here are available in every country. Always check with your veterinarian about the best options for your pet.
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For
Dogs or Cats
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Heartworm Preventing Ingredient
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Other Ingredients for Control of Other Parasites
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Other Parasites Controlled
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Mode of Application
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Youngest Age to Start Using
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Heartgard
for Dogs
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Dogs
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Ivermectin
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None
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None
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oral
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6 weeks
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Heartgard Plus,
Iverhart Plus,
Iverhart Max,
Triheart Plus,
Pet Trust Plus
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Dogs
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Ivermectin
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Pyrantel
Pamoate
Iverhart Max also
has praziquantel
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hookworms, roundworms
Iverhart Max also covers tapeworms
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oral
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6 weeks
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Heartgard
for Cats
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Cats
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Ivermectin
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None
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hookworms
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oral
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6 weeks
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Interceptor,
MilbeGuard,
Milbehart
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Dogs
and Cats
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Milbemycin Oxime
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None
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hookworms, roundworms, whipworms
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oral
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4 weeks
for puppies
6 weeks
for kittens
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Interceptor Plus
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Dogs
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Milbemycin Oxime
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Praziquantel
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hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms
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oral
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6 weeks (and at least 2 lbs)
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Sentinel,
Sentinel Spectrum
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Dogs
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Milbemycin Oxime
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Lufenuron
Sentinel Spectrum also has praziquantel
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hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, sterilizes fleas
Sentinel Spectrum also covers tapeworms
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oral
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6 weeks (and at least 2 lbs)
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Revolution,
Paradyne, Revolt
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Dogs
and Cats
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Selamectin
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None
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For dogs: fleas, ticks, ear mites, sarcoptic mange mites
For Cats: fleas, ear mites, hookworms, roundworms
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topical
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6 weeks
for puppies
8 weeks
for kittens
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Advantage Multi,
Imoxi Topical
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Dogs
and Cats
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Moxidectin
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Imidacloprid
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For dogs: fleas, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms
For Cats: fleas, ear mites, hookworms, roundworms
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topical
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7 weeks
for puppies
9 weeks
for kittens
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Proheart 6,
Proheart 12
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Dogs
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Moxidectin
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None
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hookworms
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injectable
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6 months for Proheart 6, 12 months for Proheart 12
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Trifexis
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Dogs
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Milbemycin Oxime
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Spinosad
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fleas, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms
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oral
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8 weeks
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Coraxis
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Dogs
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Moxidectin
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None
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roundworms, hookworms, whipworms
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topical
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7 weeks (and at least 3 lbs)
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Simparica Trio
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Dogs
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Moxidectin
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Sarolaner, pyrantel pamoate
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fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms
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oral
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8 weeks (and at least 2.8 lbs)
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Bravecto Plus
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Cats
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Moxidectin
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Fluralaner (for fleas and ticks)
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ticks, fleas, hookworms, roundworms
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topcial
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6 months
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NexGard Spectra
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Dogs
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Milbemycin Oxime
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Afoxolaner
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flea, tick, mites, heartworm, hookworm, roundworm,
whipworms, flea tapeworms
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oral
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8 weeks (and at least 4.4lbs)
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How Often Used
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Approved for Pregnancy and Lactation?
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Water-proof?
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Safe to Give to Heartworm Positive Animal?
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Manufacturer Website
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LD50
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Heartgard for Dogs
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Monthly
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yes
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yes
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yes
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Heartgard
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10 mg/kg in rats orally according to MSDS sheet for Parade Equine Gel
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Heartgard Plus,
Iverhart Plus,
Iverhart Max,
Triheart Plus,
Pet Trust Plus
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monthly
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yes
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yes
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yes
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Heartgard Plus
Iverhart Plus
Iverhart Max
Triheart Plus
PetTrustPlus
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10 mg/kg in rats orally for ivermectin;
>690 mg/kg in dogs orally for Pyrantel Pamoate according to The Elephant Formulary by Mikota and Plumb
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Heartgard for Cats
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monthly
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yes
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yes
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yes
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Heartgard
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10 mg/kg in rats orally
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Interceptor,
MilbeGuard,
Milbehart
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monthly
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yes
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yes
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In most cases yes but if microfilariae numbers are high then no
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Interceptor
MilbeGuard
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LD50 information unavailable
Symptoms of tremors and incoordination result at 19 times recommended dose
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Interceptor Plus
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monthly
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not tested for lactation, consult your vet regarding use in pregnancies
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yes
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In most cases yes but if microfilariae numbers are high then no
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Interceptor Plus
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LD50 information unavailable
Symptoms of tremors and incoordination result at 19 times recommended dose
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Sentinel, Sentinel Spectrum
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monthly
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yes
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yes
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In most cases yes but if microfilariae numbers are high then no
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Sentinel
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LD50 information unavailable
Symptoms of tremors and incoordination result at 19 times recommended dose
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Revolution,
Paradyne, Revolt
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monthly
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yes
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yes
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yes
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Revolution
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>1600 mg/kg in the rat orally
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Advantage Multi,
Imoxi Topical
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monthly
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no
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no
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yes
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Advantage
Multi
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Moxidectin: 106 mg/kg orally;
Imidacloprid: 450 mg/kg in the rat orally
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Proheart 6,
Proheart 12
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every 6 months for Proheart 6,
every 12 months for Proheart 12
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yes
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yes
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No, in fact, owner must agree to pre-treatment labwork including heartworm testing
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Proheart 6
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263 mg/kg in the rat when given by injection (the dose used therapeutically is 0.17mg/kg)
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Trifexis
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monthly
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Manufacturer cautions use, says to discuss with your veterinarian
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yes
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In most cases, yes but if microfilariae numbers are high then no
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Trifexis
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Milbemycin Oxime: LD50 information unavailable
Spinosad: >3,000 mg/kg in rats; >2,000 mg/kg in rabbits (translates to over 30 times recommended dose)
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Coraxis
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monthly
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no
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no
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yes
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BayerDVM
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106 mg/kg orally
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Simparica Trio
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monthly
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no
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yes
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no
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Zoetis
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783 mg/kg for rats orally
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Bravecto Plus
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every 2 months
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no
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no
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manufacturer recommends use with caution
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Merck
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Fluralaner: Dermal LD50: >2000mg/kg (rat)
Moxidectin: 106 mg/kg orally
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NexGard Spectra
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monthly
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not tested for pregnancy or lactation, consult your vet regarding use in pregnancies
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yes
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Not evaluated by manufacturer
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NexGard Spectra
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Afoxolaner: up to 1,000mg/kg orally in rats
Milbemycin oxime: range of 532mg/kg-946mg/kg, varied in mice and rats.
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