What HW prevention are you using

Trifexis-- you will find many on here who love it -- and there are those of us who wouldn't use it EVER. It's milbemycin (like Interceptor) but it has a flea ingredient "spinosad" that is systemic (stays in the body all month). I don't like that it is contraindicated for dogs "prone" to seizures. I won't use anything systemic (which rules out Revolution as well) and I don't like spinosad in particular. Novartis is going to make Sentinel -- it's milbemycin (like Interceptor) with the old Program egg-inhibitor drug added. I'm still on the fence -- I don't know if I'm going to use Sentinel or if I'm going to just use liquid ivermectin.

 I'm using the liquid ivermectin but I'd rather have Interceptor. Seeing as how I can't have that, my vet has a compounded Heartworm medicine that is basically Interceptor. It is $12 for 6 months! I picked some up for my Mom to use for Darcee. I think I'll get my girls on it next time I have to have their hw test done. It covers the same stuff that Interceptor does :) I'll have to ask what company they get it from. There is always the chance if you ask your vet that they could get a compounded HW for you as well!

 

 I used Interceptor.  Bichons as a breed have a higher than acceptable reaction rate to Heartgard, so it is not recommended for this breed.

 The past year, I've not used it much at all.  Instead, I use small amounts of garlic.  I boil skinless boneless chicken breasts in water and some minced garlic.  The chicken is use as highest value of all training treats for the dogs, and morning brekkie for my cats (lots cheaper than the Temptations!).  I store the broth in a pitcher in the fridge, warm a bit in the microwave and pour it over the dogs' kibble.  This has been working well, ticks die before they engorge!  Keeps away mosquitos too.

All thee of my dogs are on Trifexis.  I wouldn't say I love it because I don't love using any sort of insecticide on my dogs but I've had no problems with it.  Living in an area where the mosquitos are rampant and heartworm is very common I have to use it year round. 

Has anyone here heard of this? http://homemadehousewife.blogspot.com/2012/09/homemade-wormer-for-pets.html I don't want to give him double insecticide by adding the flea killer, I'm thinking. Iverheart...I was told that is like Heartguard. I used to give him Banfield brand when he was younger....even thinking about going back for that. Thanks for your replies friends!

We use Trifexis, too.  Like Jackie, I'm not thrilled about what it contains, but we've not had any problems (knock wood). 

I often think we should reevaluate what we use and how often we use it because we don't have a significant mosquito or tick problem in this part of the state.  I'm not aware of heartworm being a huge threat either.  We don't do any hiking, camping, etc., so her outdoor activity is a bit more limited in scope than some dogs.  But, I'm a worry wart and know there are always chances a tick or mosquito could cause a problem, so we've used the treatments year-round with Ruby and Tonka before her.

Is liquid ivermectin that ONLY way to get HW protection without the added flea and worm protection? I am not interested in fleas or worms.....I don't have a problem with them so why give my dog something to kill them?

We basically prefer Heartgard for HW and Frontline for flea/tick. We do hike a lot and have had many dead ticks fall off our pet. I'm thinking of switching to Vectra 3D as it also is supposed to repel mosquitoes which cause HW in the first place.

dyan

Is liquid ivermectin that ONLY way to get HW protection without the added flea and worm protection? I am not interested in fleas or worms.....I don't have a problem with them so why give my dog something to kill them?

AT this point *Yes*. I had this exact conversation with my holistic vet 3 weeks ago -- it's ultimately come down to which secondary flea/tick drug will you NOT use. For me spinosad is just plain not *ever* going to be workable because I have one dog who could easily be seizure prone (we already are treating her for mild seizure activity.)

compoundia

I'm thinking of switching to Vectra 3D as it also is supposed to repel mosquitoes which cause HW in the first place.

Some of us on here have had horrific results with Vectra. It affects the fleas neurally -- the way it's been described to me is it makes the fleas "drunk" before they die. It also somehow ATTRACTS fleas in a big way. The "up" side being that you kill more fleas that way.

When I tried it two of my dogs nearly went out of their minds -- because it drew every flea in the vicinity and because it makes those fleas super active, my poor dogs went thru heck until the parasites died. Poor Tink -- the fleas apparently get super active before they die and she was just insane with how badly it itches to have the fleas so active on her body.

One of the other ladies on here (who is mostly now on FB), had bad reactions as well -- her older boxer simply had convulsions. But about an hour after she gave it to one of her other dogs she looked and literally the dog's skin was literally covered with thousands of fleas all moving en masse over the skin. I have no idea where she ultimatel went with this (I know at one point she considered a lawsuit because of what it did to Brutus, but I don't know if she followed thru on that, you'd have to ask her).

I literally have a box with 6-8 brand new pipettes in it and I'll never use it because it made Tink SO miserable. Knowing what I now know (that Tink is prone to seizure activity) NO way would I ever use it again on any of my dogs.