Heartgard (ivermectin) or Interceptor?

Hello there []

Interceptor and K9 Adv. is a good combo. A better combo is Sentinel plus K9 Adv for those two or three months when ticks are really bad (there are close to no areas in the US that really require more). If you really want to watch the expenses, you might not even need any of these for parts of the year (depending where you live, as fleas and heartworms are seasonal), but you best talk to your vet about that. The advantage of Sentinel over Int/K9 is firstly the price, as it is considerably cheaper than the other two combined. Next, Sentinel is more effective against fleas than K9 Advantix. Sentinel is 100% effective in preventing procreation - the only thing you only care about - whereas K9 almost always scores significantly below that, more pronounced so if the dog is bathed, goes swim a lot, the medication is not applied properly, etc. Thus, optimal protection is provided by Sentinel plus K9 Adv (for those 2 early summer tick infestation months; you might not need it at all, if Lyme disease is uncommon in your area, so ask your vet).

Have a great summer []

ORIGINAL: amstaffy

I don't have my book here at work but I use Ivermectin for control of all worms(including heartworm) excluding tapes monthly.

I have read over the years that it is NOT to be used on collies and herding breeds as well. I would have to search out where, I seem to remember that it causes blindness and/or seizures

More than that, it can kill a sensitive dog!  Fortunately, there is a test to see if a dog is carrying the mutant gene that causes sensitivity (allows drug to pass blood brain barrier). 

[font="arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif"]The MDR1 mutation has also been found in Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties). Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, German Shepherds, Long-haired Whippets, Silken Windhounds, and a variety of mixed breed dogs.

[linkhttp://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/#Drugs]http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/#Drugs[/link]

I have heard anecdotal reports of sensitivity in Boxers, JRT, and Whippets; however, there is no research to back it up. 

[linkhttp://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/research/canine/projects/mdr1b/]http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/research/canine/projects/mdr1b/[/link]

According to research at UC Davis, Whippets and JRTs are NOT affected by the mdr1 gene, so it's hard to say what the problem is.  Any dog can be sensitive to a drug, just not for the same reason as the Collie/Aussie/etc herding dogs.

I know quite a few people with sporting dogs (pointers, spaniels, beagles) who give higher doses of ivermectin (at dosage to kill HW as well as intestinal parasites) with no side effects. 

They are finding more breeds all the time that are sensitive (Irish Water Spaniels was the latest one I heard of) and it can kill any dog that is sensitive.  But it's like a crap shoot -- even in the breeds where it is well-established that it is dangerous it affects about 3 out of 5 -- which is just enough to make some folks say "oh, it didn't bother my dog" -- it's literally like whatever gene in us that makes us able to roll our tongues or not, except this one is lethal.
 
That's why I won't ever give out doses for ivermectin online -- if someone emails me privately I will help them once I am POSITIVE they don't have a dog that has any part 'herder' or affected breed. 
 
It's been so pushed for demodex that again, some make it sound 'safe'.  And the dose for demodex is 200 TIMES that for heartworm and it is given daily.  *sigh* 

Intercepter is what I give. 
But am wondering are these safe been hearing I should stop that also and some people have natural alternatives.  So trying to decided if I should try those.
 

I'm probably about one of the MOST prone to use herbals and alternative medicine of nearly anyone on here, but NOT for heartworm/parasites.  The herbs used are poison --like black walnut.  No way will I use something that's a known poison when I know Interceptor is safe and will kill all the worst parasites.  I'm right in the worst area for parasites (hot humid Florida)

ORIGINAL: calliecritturs
I'm probably about one of the MOST prone to use herbals and alternative medicine of nearly anyone on here, but NOT for heartworm/parasites.  The herbs used are poison --like black walnut.  No way will I use something that's a known poison when I know Interceptor is safe and will kill all the worst parasites.  I'm right in the worst area for parasites (hot humid Florida)

 
Out of curiosity, would you feel differently if you were in a less risky environment?  I'm in Canada and have been debating for a long time over whether or not to go with heartworm preventatives...  I can't help but feel I am doing my dog more harm then good BUT at the same time, he doesn't have long fur and we spend a lot of time in greenbelts...  It is a tough call...
 

No, I wouldn't.  Because I lost a dog to parasites several years ago.  took a foster in during a hurricane and he had hooks and whips.  My 'old' dog then got them and was gone WITHIN A MONTH. 
 
Interceptor works on more than just heartworm -- all these things are literally fatal if untreated.  I dislike chemicals but we live in a society where we have to deal with the effects of the poisons we've put into the atmosphere -- I won't, for the sake of a principle, put my dogs at risk to something fatal that I can prevent with something very very safe once a month that will be out of their systems in 24 hours. 
 
Hooks and whips are everywhere.  Heartworm is all over North America, including Alaska.  Any dog who steps out of its own front door can be exposed to parasites.  And all kinds of wildlife can also carry hooks and whips -- so, no -- even if I was in the frozen North I would still be using Interceptor -- it's a totally preventable thing.  I lost Mike way way sooner than I should have -- not to heartworm but to plain old garden variety parasites.  My stupidity then, but I'll never let it happen again. 
 
Make sense??  It's the same wtih fleas -- I've lived thru my dogs being sick because of fleas -- and no I don't like chemcials but I will use Frontline rather than expose my dogs to flea-borne illness and tapeworms.  Yes it's a chemical but it's not systemic. 
 
That's where I draw the line -- I won't use stuff like Revolution that is systemic.  If I gotta use a chemical I want it to be a smart one. 

Thank-you for explaining...I am still on the fence with this issue but I don't have too long to decide what to do!  I'm glad threads like these are starting to pop up!

I have been reading this thread with great interest and then wondered elsewhere to research individual products.  I found this chart on the Heartgard website.
[linkhttp://heartgard.us.merial.com/why/product_compare.asp]http://heartgard.us.merial.com/why/product_compare.asp[/link]
I have been using Frontline Plus and Heartgard.  At this point I see no reason to change.  We had a successful summer last year in terms of protection (only found one tick and no fleas) and Baily showed no adverse reaction.  I am going to switch the cats from Revolution to Frontline.  Did not realize it is a systemic product and the Frontline is less exspensive as well.


 
Okay I have to admit the above chart is a bit misleading.  Of course it is published by Heartgard and therefore left out the catagory of Whip Worms because Heartgard does not protect against them whereas Interceptor does. 

It seems I have become obsessed with this topic in the past couple days....
 
I found this website.  It has a comparison of the most popular heartworm and flea control products.  Easy to read and good answers to basic questions.
 
[linkhttp://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=&A=488&SourceID]http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=&A=488&SourceID[/link]=