ProHeart® FAQ

ProHeart® 6 is an injectable parasiticide that is used in dogs six months of age and older to prevent heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) continuously for six months and to treat common hookworm infections (Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala).

Your veterinarian is your best resource for recommending appropriate medications for your dog. It is important to discuss your dog's health history with your veterinarian so he/she can decide if ProHeart® 6 is right for your dog.

ProHeart® 6 should not be used in sick, debilitated, or underweight animals. ProHeart® 6 should be given with caution in dogs with pre-existing allergic disease, including previous vaccine reactions, food allergy, atopy, and flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs should be tested for heartworm disease prior to being treated with ProHeart® 6. If your dog tests positive for adult heartworms, your veterinarian should treat the infection with appropriate medication before administering ProHeart® 6.

Severe allergic reactions: facial swelling, itching, vomiting, difficulty breathing, collapse Some severe allergic reactions can be an emergency requiring immediate veterinary assistance. Signs of a severe allergic reaction often occur within the first hour but may occur at any time during the first 24 hours after treatment. Please watch your dog closely for any of the above signs for 24 hours after treatment with ProHeart® 6 because these signs may indicate that your dog is having a severe allergic reaction.

Other possible side effects:

• Lethargy (sluggishness), not eating or losing interest in food, any change in activity level
• Seizures
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea (with and without blood)
• Weight loss
• Pale gums
• Increased thirst or urination, weakness, bleeding, bruising
• In some cases, these side effects may be serious and may cause death

If you notice any of these side effects or have any concerns about your dog, please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

In well-controlled clinical studies, ProHeart® 6 and ProHeart® 12 were used safely in dogs receiving other veterinary products such as anthelmintics, antiparasitics, antibiotics, analgesics, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anesthetics, and flea control products. Allergic reactions, sometimes serious, have been reported when ProHeart® 6/12 and vaccinations have been given at the same time. Talk to your veterinarian about the risks of administering ProHeart® 6/12 at the same time as vaccinations. Tell your veterinarian about all medicines you have given your dog in the past, and any medicines that you are planning to use with ProHeart® 6/12.

Several studies have shown that by the end of the six-month or twelve-month treatment period, the amount of ProHeart® 6/12 remaining in the body is too small to measure. An additional study demonstrated that after four consecutive treatments there was no accumulation of ProHeart® 6/12 over time.

This page provides a summary of information about ProHeart® 6. If you already have the product, you can read the package insert for more information.

If you have any questions or concerns about ProHeart® 6, talk to your veterinarian.