Accidentally Gave My Dog 2 Doses Heartgard : 17 Menacing Side Effects

If a canine is given medication 10 to 20 times above the recommended dosage, toxicity can occur. Furthermore, some dogs are allergic to the medication, therefore, when it comes to this dogs, ivermectin can directly go to the brain and cause toxicity or even death. What about when it comes to Heartgard, is it safe for dogs?

What is likely to happen if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard? The practical worst case scenario that can occur if your dog took two doses of heartgard is your dog will experience a series of loose stools for a limited amount of time. Apart from that, proceed as usual and ensure you give the next dose on time.

Let’s understand in detail what heartgard is, how heartgard helps dogs when taken in moderation with Vet advice and what can happen on heartgard overdose for dogs.

What Is Heartgard?

Heartgard plus, also known as ivermectin or pyrantel, is a pharmaceutical drug that requires a prescription and veterinary approval for it’s usage. Apart from killing heartworms, heartgard treats and keeps hookworms at bay.

Its preferred dosage is usually one chewable tablet for a 30 day period. If you follow this regiment to the latter when administering heartgard to your canine, your canine will be protected from heartworms and hookworms.

Furthermore, these tablets are effective in preventing heartworm disease as well as treating and controlling hookworms and heartworms. Heartgard plus tablets are also essential in keeping heartworm disease at bay in addition to treating and controlling hookworms and roundworms.

It is advisable to use these tablets to treat canines aged 6 weeks and above and they should at least weigh 1 to 25 pounds.

Be sure to consult a vet before you begin any treatment and confirm that your canine has been infected with heartworms before giving your dog this drug. You can do this by getting your dog tested first before you put it on heartgard medication.

So if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard will she die? Not necessarily, your canine will just be affected to a small extent with loose stools temporarily.

What Is In Heartgard?

Ivermectin is the only active ingredient in heartgard. Apart from heartgard, there is no other medication that contains ivermectin solemnly in their make-up. 

However, there exists other branded generics that make use of ivermectin along with other deworming medications like Tri-He.

Considering that ivermectin is the predominant ingredient in heartgard, if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard, could it be lethal to her? No, two doses of heartgard will not be toxic to your dog. 

However, it is advisable to administer heartgard as per it’s prescription, just to be safe.

So according to this, can I give my dog two doses of heartgard? Although it isn’t necessary, you can give your canine 2 two of heartgard safely.

What Happens If You Give Your Dog Too Heartworm Medicine?

I accidentally gave my dog two heartworm pills, is this bad for my dog? No, however, if you give your canine 10 to 20 doses of heartgard above the recommended dosage, your canine may get toxic. Furthermore, some dogs are naturally hypersensitive to this drug.

When it comes to this dog ivermectin can go directly to the brain and cause toxicity or even death to your dog.

Does this mean that if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard it will die? No, 2 doses of heartgard will not kill your dog let alone cause toxicity. 

However, always administer heartgard as per the it’s instructions since it is a prescription drug. 

What about when it comes to heartgard in particular, what happens when you give your dog two doses of heartgard? In the worst case scenario, your dog will experience loose stools temporarily. However, being a prescription drug, it is advisable to administer heartgard to your canine as per its prescription.

What about heartgard, can you overdose a dog on heartgard? Yes, if you give your dog heartgard 10 to 20 times above the recommended dosage, it may cause your canine to become toxic or even die.

What Happens My Dog Eats Two Doses Of Heartgard?

Can I give my dog two doses of heartgard? If you administer two doses of heartgard to your canine, she will in the worst case scenario experience loose stools for a limited period.

That said, it is always advisable to administer heartgard as per its guidelines since it is a prescription drug.

In relation to this, should I be worried if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard. There is no cause for alarm if you happen to administer two doses of heartgard to your canine by mistake.

However, it is recommended that you always administer heartgard in adherence to its instructions since it is a prescription drug.

What if my dog ate 3 doses of heartgard, can this be toxic to my canine? No, three doses of heartgard will not make your dog toxic.

Can I Overdose My Dog With Heartgard?

Yes. If you administer heartgard to your canine 10 to 20 times above the recommended dosage, this is considered as heartgard overdose..

Should I therefore get concerned if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard. No, two doses of heartgard is not toxic to your canine.

In the worst case scenario, your canine can only experience loose tools and for a limited amount of time. What about heartgard sentinel, I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses sentinel, is this bad for my canine’s health?

Can You Double Up On Heartworm Treatment?

My dog took two heartworm pills, is this safe, and can this cause double dose heartworm medicine? No, it is not recommendable for you to double-up or administer extra doses when using heartgard for the prevention of heartworm. That said, taking two heartworm pills will not cause your dog to have double dose heartworm disease.

In the case where more than eight weeks have gone by without administering the medication, resume giving the drug as soon as you remember.

What if I already accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard, should I be concerned? No, giving your dog 2 doses of heartgard will not necessarily harm her. Remember, however, that heatgard is a prescription drug therefore it should be administered as prescribed.

What if my dog ate 6 heartworm pills, can this be toxic for him? No, 6 heartworm pills aren’t enough to make your canine toxic. 

However, it is recommended that you administer this medication to your dog as per its instructions since it is a prescription drug. What if I give my dog 2 doses of heartgard? As we have learned, two doses of heartgard are not harmful to your dog. 

However, remember to administer it too your canine in adherence to its instructions. 

I Accidentally Gave My Dog 2 Doses Heartgard Plus, Now What?

There is no need for major concern in case you accidentally administer two doses of heartgard plus to your canine. In the worst case scenario, your dog will experience a series of loose stools for a limited amount of time.

With this in mind, if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard, will she be alright even after experiencing bouts of loose stools that are as a result of this drug? Yes, apart from experiencing the bouts of loose stools that usually will pass on their own, your canine will generally be fine.

What about when it comes to tri heart plus overdose, how does it manifest? When taken in excess, sensitive canines can be intolerant to tri heart plus medication.

They may show symptoms like mydriasis, depression, ataxia, tremors and even death.

Lasty, what about interceptor plus, can a dog overdose on interceptor plus? Although very rare, a canine can show signs of weakness, depression and lack of energy if it overdoses on interceptor plus medication.

Can’t Remember If I Gave My Dog Heartworm Medicine, Now What?

So, I can’t remember if I gave my dog heartworm medicine, what now? In the event you are not certain whether or not you gave your canine heartworm medication, give the dose you are unsure of immediately since 2 doses cannot hurt your dog anyway.

After doing that ensure that you remember administering the medication as prescribed.

Speaking of heartworm medicine, I remember an instance where I gave my dog heartworm medicine too soon. Can this affect my canine’s health negatively?

It depends on the amount given. That said, you should always ensure you give this medication to your canine as per its prescription.

How Much Is Too Much Heartgard For Dogs?

If you administer heartgard medication 10 to 20 times above the recommended dosage, this is considered too much for your canine.

Putting this into consideration, is there cause for concern if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard? No, two doses of heartgard cannot cause your canine major harm.

However, it is advisable that you administer this medication as per it’s instructions since it is a prescription drug.

What about half a heartgard, can I give my dog half a heartgard? Although you can give your dog half a heartgard, it is always advisable to administer this drug according to its guidelines since it is a prescription drug.

What Health Symptoms To Look Out For Overdose in Dogs?

There are two major instances that can lead to your canine overdosing on medication. This is an overdose of a prescribed drug manufactured for a dog, or taking any dose of a human drug that is not designed for your canine.

An overdose can either be accidental or intentional. If your canine accesses the medication by accident, there are higher chances of a more severe overdose taking place.

Does it therefore mean that if I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard I should have reason to worry? No, 2 doses of heartgard will not usually cause your canine major harm.

However, since heartgard is a prescription drug, it is better to administer it to your dog as per the stipulated guidelines to be on the safe side.

Various signs can present themselves after an overdose depending on the medication in question. Below are the major indications that your canine has overdosed on a medication;-

• Vomiting
• Drooling or excessive salivation
• Weakness
• Lack of coordination
• Tremors
• Disorientation
• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Agitation
• Irregular heartbeat (very rapid or too slow)
• Low blood pressure
• Pale mucous membranes
• Lethargy
• Depressed breathing
• Seizures
• Stupor
• Coma

How To Prevent Dogs From Overdosing On Heartgard?

If I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard at some point in the past, how can I ensure I avoid this from ever happening in the future? Well, this depends if the overdose was by accident or intentional.

That said, the prerogative of watching what your canine eats and how much it eats is strictly yours as his or her owner.

Make sure therefore to be careful on what you feed your canine. Also ensure that you don’t leave medication lying around carelessly.

Heartgard Active Ingredients

Final Verdict – Accidentally Gave My Dog 2 Doses Heartgard

So what can we learn when it comes to the topic, I accidentally gave my dog 2 doses heartgard? First and foremost we can safely conclude that administering 2 doses of heartgard plus to your canine is in no way lethal. However, you should always ensure you administer heartgard to your canine in the required dosage since it is a prescription drug.

That said, it is always advisable to seek advice from a professional, such as a vet, to know how and when and what quantities you should administer this drug when it comes to your canine.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet dog a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️