Can I get affordable heartworm medication over-the-counter or online?

Tri-Heart is generic Heartgard and is just as effective. I am not sure why your vet won't prescribe it for you. You cannot buy any heartworm prevention over the counter so you will need a prescription. I suggest you bring your dog to one of the VETCO vaccine clinics at your local Petco stores (see schedule below). Bring proof of his last negative heartworm test and they can give you a prescription for the Tri-Heart. There is no charge for the exam. Just the cost of the medication. Hope this helps! ( https://www.vetcoclinics.com/services-and-clinics/clinic-locations-and-schedules/?zip=77469 ) ( https://www.petco.com/shop/SearchDisplay?categoryId=&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&sType=SimpleSearch&resultCatEntryType=2&showResultsPage=true&searchSource=Q&pageView=&beginIndex=0&pageSize=48&fromPageValue=search&searchTerm=triheart )

You will need to go to a vet as it requires a negative heartworm test before it can be prescribed. This is a simple, fast blood-test that will let the vet know it is safe to start preventive medication. Why this is required is if your pet already has heartworms and is given the medication, it can kill the worms too quickly which can cause blockages of the blood vessels leading to potential stroke or death. Making sure your pet is negative first will ensure it is safe to administer.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. You need a script because the medication is prescription only. Even if you tried to buy the heartworm medication online, it still requires a script. Should you find heartworm medications that do not require a script, they are counterfeit. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The heartworm preventatives typically do require a prescription from your veterinarian which may require an exam initially if this is Annie's first time visiting her veterinarian. There are some over the counter flea preventatives such as Advantix and Advantage or Frontline. However, these may not work as well as prescription flea preventatives from a veterinarian. There are no over the counter heartworm preventatives- this does require a prescription with Annie's veterinarian. I hope this helps!

I do recommend monthly heartworm prevention starting at 8 weeks of age. It is a prescription so a veterinarian does not have to personally give the pill but you need to either buy it from a vet or get a prescription from a vet. The only medication that needed to be at a veterinarian's office is Pro-heart. This is an injectable heartworm prevention that lasts for 6 months. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Good question! In general it is best to purchase these medications from your veterinarian. When purchased through a veterinarian the company will most often guarantee the effectiveness. This is usually not the case with products bought online or over the counter. When sold through a veterinarian the company that manufactures the product will stand behind the product and often pay for medical treatment should the product not work for some reason. The veterinarian also knows how to properly store the product so that it does not get damaged or becomes ineffective. Finally, sometimes over the counter products or products sold online can be counterfeit or even dangerous to use. Your veterinarian also knows what particular products tend to be most effective for your location.

Handsome boy! Yes, he will need a prescription. Contact your vet; a heart worm test may be required first. Here's some great info on heart worm prevention and why routine testing is recommended: https://d3ft8sckhnqim2.cloudfront.net/images/Think_12_PDFs/Think12Dog_Dos_and_Donts101316.pdf?1476362471 Thanks for asking PetCoach!