The short answer to this question is no. According to Heartgard, it is safe to give the chewable pill to dogs of any size as long as they are at least 6 weeks old. Just make sure you follow instructions from Heartgard or your veterinarian.
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Function
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Heartgard Plus helps prevent heartworm disease. According to Heartgard, it does this "by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae ... for a month (30 days) after injection."
Expert advice
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Federal law makes Heartgard available only from licensed veterinarians, according to the company, so check with your veterinarian. Also ask your vet if you have any questions or concerns about the product.
Dosage
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According to Heartgard, you can give Heartgard Plus Chewables to puppies as young as 6 weeks. You should give your dog one Chewable once a month if it weighs up to 100 lbs. For dogs weighing more than 100 lbs., ask your vet for proper dosage.
Considerations
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Have your veterinarian test your dog for heartworm infection before beginning a preventative regimen such as Heartgard, according to the company. The medicine is not effective against adult heartworms.
Time Frame
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You should give your dog Heartgard each month during the times of year when mosquitoes, which may carry the heartworm larvae, are active, Heartgard says. If you wait longer than 30 days in between doses, it may reduce the medicine's effectiveness, so try to give it to your dog on about the same day each month.
Symptoms
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According to the American Heartworm Society, early heartworm infection has no abnormal clinical signs in dogs. A cough, intolerance toward exercise and abnormal lung sounds are signs of a mild to moderate disease, says the society. If left untreated, the disease can lead to damage to major organs or even death.
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