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Does K9 Advantix II prevent heartworm in puppies? Is dosage safe?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 7 days old | 10 lbs

I am looking into purchasing heartworm medication for my puppy. I have already purchased K9 Advantix II which prevents fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Knowing that mosquitoes transmit heartworm, do I still need to purchase heartworm medication for my pup? Or, will the K9 Advantix II prevent heartworm? If yes, is generic brand as good as heartguard? Also, if the K9 Advantix II is for medium dogs (11-20lbs) and my pup is only 8/9 lbs when I need to apply it, is it safe to use? Thanks in advance!

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Megan, DVM, CVA

Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian

Published on June 26, 2018

I would still use a heartworm prevention. The K9 advantix may repell mosquitoes but it will not prevent 100%. I have a lot of people who uses the generic heartgard and don't have any breakthroughs. I would not give the 11-20 lbs Advantix to a dog less than 11 pound. My only concern is that is may cause him to be really lethargic due to being a little higher dose than he needs. I would see if you can buy one dose for a smaller dose of Advantix or a different flea preventative like frontline. I hope this helps!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 12, 2018

    Advantix II will kill mosquitoes which transfer heart worm larvae before they can bite your dog, however it is not effective against heart worm larvae in the blood. So while it may protect your dog from mosquito bites, it will not directly attack heartworm. If your vet thinks, that in your area, Advntix II is sufficient protection against heartworm, then I would not worry. If the information did not come from your vet, then I suggest you discuss this with your vet, as each area carries a different risk for infection.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 4, 2019

    Infected mosquitoes inject heartworm larvae when they bite your dog's skin. By killing mosquitoes before they can bite, you may help decrease your pet's chance of contracting the disease. That being said, it's best to use a heartworm medication as well, and I recommend Heartgard.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
What dewormer and heartworm prevention for my tiny young puppy?
There would actually be several options - most heartworm preventatives and dewormers come in tablets small enough for puppies. There is no minimum for Heartgard, and I believe there is an Interceptor dose that starts at 2 lbs. Ask your vet what medications they carry and would recommend in your area.
Updated on September 23, 2025
Vet Q & A
How to protect my dog from heartworm, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes?
Advantix is not protecting you dog against heartworm so it's not a very good option, you would want a product that covers also for heartworm such as Revolution or Advocate (although heartworm is not a real concern if you live in Bosnia). here is alink that will provide you all the information you need regarding heartworm: https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics
Updated on September 23, 2025
Vet Q & A
When should my new puppy start heartworm medicine? Is testing needed?
Hi there. Your pup is old enough to start on heartworm prevention now. I would suggest using Heartgard or Sentinel - both of these are fine for a pup who is 9 weeks old and weighs 3.5 pounds, and both are very safe in general. Puppies under six months of age do not need to be tested first.
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What heartworm prevention and early care for my 3-month-old puppy?
Heartgard and Sentinel are both good options for heartworm prevention - just make sure to check the minimum weight requirements, since I'm not sure how much your puppy weighs. He will also need to be vaccinated against distemper, parvo, and other serious illnesses that are common in puppies, and should also be dewormed if this hasn't been done yet. You should be able to make an appointment with your local vet to have all of these things done - the vet can also prescribe an appropriate heartworm prevention for your pup at that time :)
Updated on September 23, 2025
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What flea/tick and Heartgard options are safe for my 8-week-old puppy?
Vii can be given Heartgard (8 weeks is an appropriate age to start) but make sure you have the appropriate sized dose for Vii's weight. For fleas and ticks I recommend a monthly chewable product such as Nexgard, which is labeled for young puppies like Vii. This is a prescription product and is available from your veterinarian. Hope this helps!
Updated on September 23, 2025
Vet Q & A
Does my puppy need a vet to administer heartworm prevention?
I do recommend monthly heartworm prevention starting at 8 weeks of age. It is a prescription so a veterinarian does not have to personally give the pill but you need to either buy it from a vet or get a prescription from a vet. The only medication that needed to be at a veterinarian's office is Pro-heart. This is an injectable heartworm prevention that lasts for 6 months. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
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Medications
Is it safe to use Revolution and K9 Advantix together on my dog?
Hi yes you can use both treatments on Daphne but i suggest separating the application by two weeks. You can also consider using a product like Proheart6 - an injectable heartworm prevention given at the vet hospital that lasts for 6mths. I find that revolution works well for fleas, but doesn't cover all types of ticks. Hope this helps!
Updated on September 23, 2025

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