Nuheart vs Heartgard Plus: Differences, Uses & Which to Choose
Choosing a monthly heartworm preventive can be confusing when two products appear to have similar names and ingredients. Nuheart and Heartgard Plus both contain ivermectin and are given monthly to help prevent heartworm disease, but they are not the same formulation.
The main difference is straightforward: Nuheart contains ivermectin, while Heartgard Plus combines ivermectin with pyrantel. As a result, Heartgard Plus also treats and controls certain roundworms and hookworms, while Nuheart is focused on heartworm prevention.
Here's how the two compare and what to consider when discussing the right choice for your dog with a veterinarian.
Nuheart vs Heartgard Plus at a Glance
The most important difference is the additional pyrantel in Heartgard Plus. Pyrantel provides activity against the roundworms and hookworms covered by that product.
What Is Nuheart?
Nuheart is a monthly oral heartworm preventive for dogs. It contains ivermectin and is available in weight-specific strengths. The supplied product page lists three standard weight ranges: up to 25 lbs, 26–50 lbs, and 51–100 lbs, with combination dosing for dogs over 100 lbs.
Ivermectin works against immature heartworm stages before they develop into adult worms. Nuheart does not eliminate adult heartworms, so dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection before starting prevention.
The tablets are given orally once a month and can be given directly or mixed with food.
What Is Heartgard Plus?
Heartgard Plus is a monthly oral chew containing ivermectin and pyrantel. It prevents canine heartworm disease and also treats and controls certain roundworms and hookworms.
The current FDA information lists Heartgard Plus for prevention of canine heartworm disease and for treatment and control of specific roundworm and hookworm species.
It is available in three standard weight ranges:
Up to 25 lbs
26–50 lbs
51–100 lbs
For dogs weighing more than 100 lbs, an appropriate combination of chews is used.
The Biggest Difference: What They Cover
If your main concern is heartworm prevention, both products contain ivermectin and are designed for monthly use.
The difference becomes more important when intestinal worms are also a concern.
Nuheart:
Nuheart for dogs is a heartworm preventive containing ivermectin. It does not list roundworm or hookworm treatment among its coverage.
Heartgard Plus:
Heartgard Plus for dogs is the combination of ivermectin and pyrantel that provides heartworm prevention plus treatment and control of specific roundworms and hookworms.
So, if a dog needs protection against the intestinal worms covered by Heartgard Plus, the two products should not be treated as interchangeable simply because both contain ivermectin.
Do They Have the Same Active Ingredients?
They share ivermectin, but Heartgard Plus has an additional active ingredient: pyrantel.
For the commonly available weight ranges, the ivermectin amounts are:
This is why calling Nuheart and Heartgard Plus “the same product” would be inaccurate. They share ivermectin-based heartworm prevention, but their formulations and parasite coverage differ.
How Are They Given?
Both are taken orally once a month, but the dosage form is different.
Nuheart comes as a small tablet that can be given directly, mixed with food, or dissolved in water before administration.
Heartgard Plus comes as a chewable. It can be offered by hand or with a small amount of food. Dogs that tend to swallow treats whole may need the chew broken into pieces to encourage proper chewing.
What About Puppies?
Both products are intended for dogs and puppies 6 weeks of age and older.
Age alone is not enough to determine whether a particular dog should receive a heartworm preventive. The dog's weight, health status, previous prevention history, and heartworm status also matter.
Can Either Product Treat Existing Adult Heartworms?
No.
Neither Nuheart nor Heartgard Plus is intended to eliminate adult heartworms. Heartgard Plus specifically requires dogs to be tested for existing heartworm infection before starting treatment, and the Nuheart information also recommends testing before beginning prevention.
If a dog has an existing heartworm infection, prevention should not be used as a substitute for veterinary treatment.
Do Nuheart or Heartgard Plus Protect Against Fleas and Ticks?
No. These products are intended for heartworm prevention, with Heartgard Plus also covering certain intestinal worms. They are not flea-and-tick treatments.
A dog may need a separate parasite-control strategy depending on its exposure and veterinary recommendations.
Which One Is Right for Your Dog?
There isn't one universal answer.
Nuheart may fit a dog whose primary need is monthly heartworm prevention and for whom a tablet containing ivermectin is appropriate.
Heartgard Plus may be more appropriate when heartworm prevention and coverage for the specific roundworms and hookworms it treats and controls are both needed.
The decision should be based on the dog's parasite risks, health history, current medications, and veterinary advice rather than price or product name alone.
Important Safety Considerations
Before starting either product, have your dog checked for an existing heartworm infection. Preventive treatment is intended to stop immature heartworm stages; it is not a treatment for established adult heartworm disease.
Ivermectin-sensitive dogs also deserve particular attention. Use the correct weight-based dose and discuss the appropriate preventive with your veterinarian if your dog is a Collie or another breed with known sensitivity concerns.
With Heartgard Plus, make sure the dog actually chews the chewable. Dogs that swallow treats whole may need the chew broken into smaller pieces to reduce the risk of choking or intestinal obstruction.
Nuheart vs Heartgard Plus: The Bottom Line
The choice becomes much clearer once you look at what each product contains.
Nuheart uses ivermectin for monthly heartworm prevention. Heartgard Plus combines ivermectin with pyrantel, adding coverage for specific roundworms and hookworms. Both are oral monthly products for dogs from 6 weeks of age, and neither treats adult heartworms.
If heartworm prevention is the only parasite-control need being addressed, Nuheart and Heartgard Plus have an important similarity. If protection against the intestinal worms covered by Heartgard Plus is also needed, its additional pyrantel becomes the key difference.
Before switching between preventives, have your veterinarian confirm the appropriate product and dosing schedule for your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nuheart the same as Heartgard Plus?
No. Both contain ivermectin, but Nuheart contains ivermectin alone, while Heartgard Plus contains ivermectin and pyrantel.
Which is better, Nuheart or Heartgard Plus?
Neither is automatically better for every dog. The more suitable option depends on whether your dog needs heartworm prevention alone or also needs coverage for the roundworms and hookworms treated and controlled by Heartgard Plus.
Can Nuheart replace Heartgard Plus?
They should not be considered interchangeable for every purpose. Nuheart and Heartgard Plus both provide ivermectin-based heartworm prevention, but Heartgard Plus has additional pyrantel for certain intestinal worms.
Do both need to be given monthly?
Yes. Both are designed for monthly administration.
Do they protect against fleas and ticks?
No. Neither Nuheart nor Heartgard Plus is a flea-and-tick treatment.
Can puppies take either product?
Both are intended for dogs and puppies from 6 weeks of age, with the appropriate weight-based dose.
Do I need a heartworm test before starting?
Yes. A dog should be checked for existing heartworm infection before beginning a preventive. Neither product is intended to eliminate adult heartworms.
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