Last Updated: 27/07/2026
Best Heartworm Treatment for Your Dog
Wondering about which heartworm medicine is best for your dog? Our Vet team compares treatments
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 3 minutes - short read
There's no single 'best' heartworm treatment for every dog. It depends on your budget, how reliably you remember a dose, and whether you want fleas, ticks and worms covered in the same product. The main options are a yearly injection, monthly heartworm tablets, monthly topical treatments and, rarely these days, a daily tablet.
Whichever heartworm prevention you choose, it's important you remember to give it on time. If your dog's prevention has lapsed, you may need to test them for heartworm before recommencing their heartworm preventative, and your vet will be able to advise the best course of action. Likewise, if you adopt an adult dog with an unknown history of parasite prevention, you should test before treating. Giving heartworm prevention to a heartworm-positive dog can be deadly.
Not sure what heartworm actually is, or how is spreads? See our other article Everything you need to know about Heartworm.
1. Is the yearly heartworm injection worth it?
The yearly injection (Proheart SR12) suits owners who want set-and-forget protection and don't mind an annual vet visit and a higher upfront cost. It's an annual needle lasting 12 months, with puppy boosters at 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months of age. It uses microspheres that gradually dissolve, releasing an anti-heartworm compound over the year. It's only available for dogs, not cats.
It doesn't cover fleas, ticks or intestinal worms, so budget for these separately. We recommend pairing it with Drontal for worming and Bravecto for fleas and ticks.
Pros
- 100% effective if injected correctly, and one dose covers a full year, ideal if you're forgetful
Cons
- Requires a vet visit and needle, which can be stressful for some dogs
- Hidden costs add up, since fleas, ticks and worms aren't covered
2. Heartworm tablets for dogs
Monthly heartworm tablets suit most owners: effective, affordable long term, and available as all-in-one combination products that also cover fleas, ticks and worms. Your two main choices are worm and heartworm combinations Interceptor, Milpro and Milbemax or worm, heartworm, flea and tick combinations (Nexgard Spectra, Simparica Trio and Credelio Plus). Combination products are always preferable to a heartworm-only tablet, since you avoid juggling three separate products.
These tablets contain macrocyclic lactones (milbemycin or ivermectin), which kill developing heartworm larvae before they mature. Monthly dosing is enough to break the lifecycle. If you choose a worm-only combination, pair it with a monthly flea and tick product; comprehensive options like Nexgard Spectra you just need a tapewormer every 6 weeks for high-risk dogs (raw fed, or with access to carcasses) or every 3 months for other dogs.
Pros
- Generally 100% effective if given on time
- Tasty chews, no needle required, with all-in-one combinations available
Cons
- Must be remembered monthly, and fussy dogs may refuse chews
Best Oral Monthly Heartworm Products
3. Is a topical heartworm treatment right for my dog?
Topical treatments suit dogs who won't take tablets or chews, applied monthly to the skin. Options include Advocate, and Neovet (worm, flea, mite and heartworm combinations) and Neovela(worm, flea, mite, lice and heartworm). None of them cover ticks or tapeworm. In tick-prone areas, including the entire East Coast of Australia, pair with a dedicated tick product like Bravecto, Simparica or Nexgard plus a tapewormer on the same 6-week or 3-month schedule as above.
For a full guide to what parasite prevention your dog needs, take a look at our Full parasite prevention guide for dogs.
Pros
- Great for fussy dogs, and generally 100% effective if applied correctly and on time
Cons
- Must be remembered monthly, and you may need extra tick and tapeworm cover depending on your area
4. What about daily heartworm tablets?
Daily heartworm tablets are mostly phased out in Australia and aren't recommended. There are far more convenient monthly options available.
There's no single "best" product, only what's best for you and your dog, based on your budget, memory and how much combined parasite cover you want.
Reach out to our Vet Squad to discuss the best heartworm protection for your dog.
Heartworm FAQs
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Tue Feb 14 2023
Written by Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
