Interceptor

I think everyone here does what they feel is best for their dogs. No one should be lambasted for making the best choice they can for their pets.  I don't like giving my dogs pesticides but the risk here is very real.  I don't know enough to make a judgement about the motives of the different drug manufacturers to make any sort of claim about that. 

4HAND

They{the makers of HW preventative} don't have my dog's best interest in mind,only I have that.They are interested in making money that is crystal clear to me.

Since studying why Ollie the Great Dane had such allergy problems, getting involved in all the possibilities of food and MOSTLY drugs.... I have found and believe that there is NO drug company that has any interest in anything besides $$.  AND the FDA has more people that work at drug companies than you can believe according to what I read by Dr. Mercola.........so THAT tells me how great the FDA is in protecting our best interest. ( right now with the jecky from China going on that is killing dogs and the FDA has not made them pull it, so its sitting in almost all stores ).    The problem with Vets and (most doctors probably)...is they are bought and sold by the drug companies...sit in the waiting room of your doctors office long enough to see all the drug salesmen that come in and out each day.  Therefore, should I listen to only the vet or should I investigate on my own?  Learned with the injectable PH6 to investigate on my own...lots of dogs died to people going in blindly and listening to their vets on that one. AND still are from what I understand, now that it is BACK on the market.

A few years ago...we were giving Ollie HW tests every 6 months, if he would have contracted HW, he would have had to take the medicine to kill it then, but because he was getting tested every 6 months, the worms would be so small and not much more dangerous than the HW preventative is to begin with since it ALSO is designed to kill the heartworms IF you dog has them.

4HAND

One more point I'd like to make is how annoyed I am that after the companies making ivermectin based preventatives lost buisness to Interceptor their response was to lower dosages so folks who owned herders would buy their product again.This has led to dogs contracting heartworms despite being on preventative and worms that are more resistant to ivermectin.

I wanted to add in my last post, that I did not realize that this happened...I have been using Interceptor...still not sure what to use now and haven't taken Gibson to get tested yet. Amost snowing here in Cleveland now.

4HAND

One more point I'd like to make is how annoyed I am that after the companies making ivermectin based preventatives lost buisness to Interceptor their response was to lower dosages so folks who owned herders would buy their product again.This has led to dogs contracting heartworms despite being on preventative and worms that are more resistant to ivermectin.

I wanted to add in my last post, that I did not realize that this happened...I have been using Interceptor...still not sure what to use now and haven't taken Gibson to get tested yet. Amost snowing here in Cleveland now.

The box from my vet of Iverheart Max has an Aussie pictured right on it. My vet says it's now safe for "Collie" breeds.Why else would they do that unless a..it was making dogs sick or b...they wanted a bigger share of the market?The Australian Shepherd Club of America says no Ivermectin unless you have a negative test for MDR1.Why not just carry Interceptor? My speculation is it costs more and that cuts into the vet's bottom line.I don't blame them for making a living but I bet there's a bunch of people giving it to untested herders and taking a risk with their dog's health in doing so.

                                      Tena

JackieG

I think everyone here does what they feel is best for their dogs. No one should be lambasted for making the best choice they can for their pets.  I don't like giving my dogs pesticides but the risk here is very real. 

Yeah. I agree Jackie....I feel unsure either way, but in Ohio and with all the facts...I feel more unsure giving the HW pill than I feel sure...therefore to give it year round would be even worse. 

dyan

 

Yeah. I agree Jackie....I feel unsure either way, but in Ohio and with all the facts...I feel more unsure giving the HW pill than I feel sure...

   These links show the prevalence of heartworm disease in the country as reported by clinics. The first link is for 2005, and the second link is for 2010;

  KNOW Heartworms | Incidence Map

 Heartworm Diagnosed in Every State in ’10, Survey Finds

   The map in the second link is small but If you scroll over it and right click, the map enlarges.  Ohio doesn't look bad, but this will give you an idea of the incidence of heartworm disease there.

I have two Interceptor left and then I don't know wht I am going to do come July 1.  Altho Honey looks full goelsn to most, we know she is not and hae no idea what the little dab is tht is in with golden.  Probably hound, but we don't know.  So I am leery of the one that is not for herding dogs.  Also, I had read that the dosage had been lowered and dogs were getting HW, but I have not read a dirveft post by anyone who had tht happen.

An since we only have to give her something for lfeas 2-3 times a year (comfortis), I hate to gie her the trifexis as it contains the additional flea stuff.  Just don't like giving her anything she doesn't have to have.

also, as so many here know, the ONE time I switched from Interceptor, it cost me my beautiful 4 year old golden boy, Hunter.  Dyan has already mentioned it--ProHeart6 My dogs had been on the old daily prevention for yers and then the Interceptor.  AFter wht happened to my Hunter, I am actually scared to try another prevetnion, but living on the Texas coast, I HAVE NO CHOICE.  She has to be on them year round.

I am not going to make my decision until I have to.

sandra_slayton

I am not going to make my decision until I have to.

Maybe by then they will be shipping. My vet says they aready got some but I'm wondering if its just what they had left over, and for sure it not for the big dogs!

calliecritturs

I just wish we could still get Fil-ar-a-bits!!

Oh Callie, SO DO I!    Dailey HW pills were most convenient to me. My dogs have always gotten treats when they went out to do " their business" starting with housebreaking as young puppies.   So when it came to HW time, their first treat in the AM was their Fllarabits...over and done with for the day...never needed to try to remember once a month.  And the dogs loved them besides. 

calliecritturs

I just wish we could still get Fil-ar-a-bits!!

Oh Callie, SO DO I!    Dailey HW pills were most convenient to me. My dogs have always gotten treats when they went out to do " their business" starting with housebreaking as young puppies.   So when it came to HW time, their first treat in the AM was their Fllarabits...over and done with for the day...never needed to try to remember once a month.  And the dogs loved them besides. 

I hve never had a problem remembering to gie the montholy because they always got/gets them on the first.  a few times it would be on the 2ed becaue i wqould be a daylate changing my calendar.  But when I change my calendear to the next month---they got.get their pills.

 When I give the pill, I put the little sticker on the date (1st or 2ed) so there is no confusin if hubby is home, tht it is done.  I know some how sticks the stickers on in advance to remind themselves to do, but that would not work for me.  Just having that set date does. 

With the old daily, them got them with supper eery day.