HEARTGARD

Approved by FDA under NADA # 140-971

Chewables

Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

For use in dogs to prevent canine heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae (Dirofilaria immitis) for a month (30 days) after infection and for the treatment and control of roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina) and hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma braziliense).

HEARTGARD^® PLUS 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 roundworms and hookworms is as follows:

Remove only one chewable at a time from the foil-backed blister card. Return the card with the remaining chewables to its box to protect the product from light.

Because most dogs find HEARTGARD® PLUS palatable, the product can be offered to the dog by hand. To avoid the risk of choking or intestinal obstruction, the chewable should be administered in a manner that encourages the dog to chew, rather than to swallow without chewing (see Precautions and Post-Approval Experience). Alternatively, it may be added intact to a small amount of dog food to encourage chewing, but care should be taken to ensure that the dog consumes the complete dose at one time.

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.

HEARTGARD® PLUS 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. The final dose must be given within a month (30 days) after the dog's last exposure to mosquitoes.

When replacing another heartworm preventive product in a heartworm disease preventive program, the first dose of HEARTGARD® PLUS must be given within a month (30 days) of the last dose of the former medication.

If the interval between doses exceeds a month (30 days), the efficacy of ivermectin can be reduced. Therefore, for optimal performance, the chewable 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 HEARTGARD® PLUS and resumption of the recommended dosing regimen minimizes the opportunity for the development of adult heartworms.

Monthly treatment with HEARTGARD® PLUS also provides effective treatment and control of roundworms (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.

HEARTGARD^® PLUS (ivermectin/pyrantel) Chewables, given orally using 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 stage. HEARTGARD® PLUS Chewables are also effective against canine roundworms (T. canis, T. leonina) and hookworms (A. caninum, U. stenocephala, A. braziliense).

In acceptability and field trials, HEARTGARD® PLUS was shown to be an acceptable oral dosage form that was consumed at first offering by the majority of dogs.

All dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection before starting treatment with HEARTGARD® PLUS which is not effective against adult D. immitis. Infected dogs must be treated to remove adult heartworms and microfilariae before initiating a program with HEARTGARD® PLUS.

While some microfilariae may be killed by the ivermectin in HEARTGARD® PLUS at the recommended dose level, HEARTGARD® PLUS is 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.

Choking or intestinal obstruction has been reported after dosing with HEARTGARD® PLUS. For dogs that normally swallow treats whole, chewables may be broken into pieces (see Post-Approval Experience).

Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. In case of ingestion by humans, clients should be advised to contact a physician immediately. Physicians may contact a Poison Control Center for advice concerning cases of ingestion by humans.

Keep HEARTGARD® PLUS in a secure location out of reach of dogs, cats, and other animals to prevent accidental ingestion or overdose.

In clinical field trials with HEARTGARD® PLUS, vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours of dosing was observed (1.1% of administered doses).

Post-Approval Experience (2022): The following adverse events are based on post-approval adverse drug experience reporting for HEARTGARD® PLUS. Not all adverse events are reported to FDA/CVM. It is not always possible to reliably estimate the adverse event frequency or establish a causal relationship to product exposure using these data.

The following adverse events reported in dogs are listed in decreasing order of reporting frequency:

Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, seizures, ataxia, muscle tremors, hypersalivation, pruritus.

In some cases, choking or intestinal obstruction has been reported after administration of HEARTGARD® PLUS.

Contact Information: To report suspected adverse drug events, for technical assistance, or to obtain a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), contact Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. at 1-888-637-4251. For additional information about adverse drug experience reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS, or www.fda.gov/reportanimalae.

HEARTGARD® PLUS has been shown to be bioequivalent to HEARTGARD®, with respect to the bioavailability of ivermectin. The dose regimens of HEARTGARD® PLUS and HEARTGARD® are the same with regard to ivermectin (6 mcg/kg). 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) 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. HEARTGARD® 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 HEARTGARD® products in dogs, including Collies, when used as recommended.

HEARTGARD® PLUS 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 HEARTGARD® PLUS 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.

HEARTGARD® PLUS is available in three dosage strengths (see Dosage) for dogs of different weights. Each strength comes in convenient cartons of 1, 6 and 12 chewables.

Store between 68° F - 77° F (20° - 25° C). Excursions between 59° F - 86° F (15° - 30° C) are permitted. Protect product from light.

Marketed by:

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.
Duluth, GA 30096

HEARTGARD®and the Dog & Hand logo® are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.

©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. All rights reserved.

Rev. 03-2023
151749-005; 162813-003; (1050-1999-07)