ProHeart 12 provides one full year of heartworm disease* protection with only one dose.
Ask your vet about the benefits of including ProHeart 12 in your dog's annual wellness visit—it's an easy way to keep them protected, and can be administered during your vet visit.
*Caused by Dirofilaria immitis.
With ProHeart 12, heartworm disease protection doesn't have to be a hassle.
What Pet Parents & Vets are Saying
How Do Dogs Get Infected With Heartworms?
The short answer: mosquitoes. A single bite from an infected mosquito can put your dog at risk for developing heartworm disease.
- An infected mosquito bites your dog, infecting it with heartworm larvae.
- The heartworms then mature inside your dog, living in major vessels around the heart and even sometimes inside the heart itself.
- It could take longer than 7 months for the heartworms to be detectable with routine testing. An adult heartworm can grow up to a foot in length, living inside your dog’s heart and lungs.1
ProHeart 12 Is Effective & Safe
In three well-controlled studies, ProHeart 12:2
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Was 100% effective against heartworm disease* in dogs
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Was demonstrated to be safe for most types of dogs over 12 months, including:
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Dogs pregnant or nursing
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Collies sensitive to ivermectin—a common ingredient in monthly heartworm products
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Had a similar adverse event profile to Heartgard® Plus
Please see full Prescribing Information for ProHeart 12.
*Caused by Dirofilaria immitis.
Heartgard is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim.
ProHeart 6® (moxidectin): Another Reliable Option
ProHeart 6 is a twice-yearly dose to prevent heartworm disease in dogs
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20 million doses sold over a 10‑year period3
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Demonstrated safe in special populations like:4
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Dogs pregnant or nursing
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Dogs sensitive to ivermectin—a common ingredient in monthly products for heartworm disease
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Many common medicines were given at the same time in clinical trials
Please see full Prescribing Information for ProHeart 6.
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Frequently Asked Questions
ProHeart 12 is the only FDA-approved product that prevents heartworm disease in dogs for 1 full year with just 1 shot given by your vet. At the time of the shot, ProHeart 12 also treats hookworms.* ProHeart 12 is for use in healthy dogs 12 months of age and older.
*ProHeart 12 is indicated for the treatment of existing larval and adult hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala) infections.
On average, the price of a ProHeart 12 shot is about the same as 12 months’ worth of a monthly heartworm disease preventative. Cost may vary depending on how much your dog weighs. Ask your vet for details.
ProHeart 12 can be used in healthy dogs 12 months of age and older. Talk with your vet about ProHeart 12 for your dog.
Yes. In fact, in a clinical study with client-owned dogs, ProHeart 12 had a similar adverse event profile to Heartgard Plus. The most common side effects were vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. As with all medications, adverse events are possible. Your vet will determine if your dog is a candidate for Proheart 12
ProHeart 12 provides 1 full year of heartworm disease prevention in just 1 shot. The active ingredient, moxidectin, is contained in slow-dissolving microspheres that are stored in your dog’s fat-storing connective tissue (a.k.a. adipose tissue). The medicine is then released evenly over 1 year’s time, keeping your buddy consistently protected from heartworms. Cool, right?
Heartworm disease is serious and potentially fatal—and a single bite from an infected mosquito can cause it in your dog. See the basics about heartworm disease, including your dog’s risk and some of the signs and symptoms.
No, ProHeart 12 is not a vaccine because it does not stimulate the production of antibodies. ProHeart 12 is an injection of preventative medicine that slowly releases over time in your dog’s body.
ProHeart 6 provides 6 months of heartworm disease prevention for dogs and ProHeart 12 provides 1 full year of heartworm disease prevention for dogs. Dogs older than 6 months but less than 1 year old should be given ProHeart 6.
It’s important to know if your dog has heartworms before starting a new heartworm product or switching to a different one. Not sure when your dog last had a heartworm test? Check with your vet before giving any heartworm medication—not just when starting a new product or switching.
Of course we all hope that won’t happen! But if it does, your vet will want to start by running a different test to confirm the diagnosis. If that test also shows a positive result, your vet will talk with you about a treatment plan.
Talk with your vet about switching to ProHeart 12 from another heartworm disease preventative.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: See Prescribing Information for ProHeart 6 and ProHeart 12. Use ProHeart 6 in dogs 6 months of age or older and ProHeart 12 in dogs 12 months of age or older. Do not administer to dogs that are sick, debilitated, underweight, have a history of weight loss, or to those previously found to be hypersensitive to the drug. Hypersensitivity reactions may occur in some dogs when ProHeart is administered alone or with vaccines. Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions can result in death and should be treated immediately with the same measures used to treat hypersensitivity reactions to vaccines and other injectable products. Reported side effects in clinical trials included vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, anorexia, and hypersensitivity reactions. People should avoid inhalation, contact with eyes, or accidental self-injection. Certification is required before veterinarians and staff administer these products.
* Caused by Dirofilaria immitis.
† ProHeart 12 is indicated for the treatment of existing larval and adult hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala) infections.
‡ From an infected mosquito
References:
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AHS Canine Guidelines 2024. https://d3ft8sckhnqim2.cloudfront.net/images/pdf/2020_AHS_Canine_Guidelines.pdf?1580934824. Accessed January 21, 2025.
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McTier, T.L., Kryda, K., Wachowski, M. et al. ProHeart® 12, a moxidectin extended-release injectable formulation for prevention of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) disease in dogs in the USA for 12 months. Parasites Vectors 12, 369 (2019).
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ProHeart 6 Pharmacovigilance Data. Data on file. Zoetis. Inc.
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ProHeart 6 Freedom of Information Summary: 2001/06/06 Original NADA 141-189.
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