Dog Community

Heartguard and Frontline

Posted : 8/13/2006 8:07:57 AM

Do you guys know where the cheapest place is that I could order Heartguard and frontline online?
I'd prefer to get a six month supply of frontline (if they sell it like that?).
I found it for pretty cheap at petshed.com but that's all the way in Australia and I'm sure after shipping and crap, I'll be spending quire a bit.
Also, has anyone tried the generic version of Heartguard? If so, how do you like it?

Thanks for your help!

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/13/2006 8:22:44 AM

In honesty you are likely shooting yourself in the foot

When you are shopping JUST on price you are likely to get third world knock-offs of such stuff that really isn't a good quality and may 'fail' (or worse, be 'bad' or impure). But stick with a reputable company (like dog.com or Fosters & Smith) as your source.

My memory fails me as to what breed chebacca is? I use Interceptor - it is a bit more expensive *but* I break mine in half because Interceptor is dosed stronger than HeartGuard is.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/13/2006 8:26:58 AM

hehehe, Chewbecca is my screen name. My dog's name is Ella and she's a pitbull. She's 60 lbs. and has had heartworm in the past when the shelter found her. She's clear of it now, of course, but I take it serious because she DOES have a heart murmur (which the Vet said is normal and won't affect her lifespan) so, I probably won't go generic on it.
The shelter was supposed to send me a heart guard and frontline dose for August (she's due on the 15th of every month) but they haven't yet. So, I'm not waiting anymore and want to order it.

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/13/2006 8:31:57 AM

So you honestly could get the big dog Interceptor and use half a pill a month. I just wrap leftovers in a bit of foil and then put them in an empty pill bottle with a tight lid.

And another alternative to Frontline is the Frontline spray -- again that's way more cost-effective than the pipettes. You're supposed to use one spray per pound, and I use half that and even in Floor-daaa, land of the giant bugs (*sigh*) I don't have a problem.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/13/2006 8:38:19 AM

I'll have to look up Interceptor, as I am not familiar with it.
Ella can spot, taste, smell, and finally, reject, ANY pills stashed in food so I have to do it the hard way and force it down her throat.
We have to do this with her fish oil, her antibiotics and her benedryl.
I was able to crack open her benedryl yesterday and sprinkle it on some cottage cheese, but even that almost didn't work. I had to sprinkle a little, mix it in, and put more cottage cheese on top of it.

So, hiding an entire pill will definitely not work. I don't believe even the chewables will work because she is a VERY picky eater and barely even takes treats.

glenmar

Posted : 8/13/2006 8:50:00 AM

You're right that a dog can smell those pills. But I don't hide them and I don't force them. I take usually a slice of processed cheese. I tear off a little piece of that and give it to the dog....letting them know this is JUST cheese. I usually give one or two just cheese pieces, then add in the pill and TELL them, this one has the medicine you need to be strong and healthy/feel better/whatever. After the pill is swallowed, they get to finish the slice of cheese. I've always done this with my dogs......and they always cooperate. TALK to them and they get a lot of what is said.

Sandy Gardner

Posted : 8/13/2006 8:56:56 AM

I purchased 2 boxes of 6 applications each of the 89 lb + size Frontline PLUS from PetShed recently (last week). Total shpg charge was $6.00 from Australia to Indianapolis, IN and I rec'd it in under 7 days. It is the identical product but with Australian markings. My total bill for was $111.00 (& some change"). I had the same concerns as you but as you can see, it was for naught! I will continue to purchase from them! I've bought from other online companys in the US and paid more for shpg charges and shpg time was 2 wks.

Sandy Gardner

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:00:27 AM

Oh, and yes, I use Tri Heart and have for years. It is so much more economical and my dogs take it as if I was offering steak! My vet has no problem with it. I have 5 - 6 dogs (usually a stray wonders in till I find 'em new digs) and so I have to shop for the best bargain without compromising their health!

Sandy Gardner

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:03:24 AM

Also, if Ella is due for her preventatives, you can buy one dose of each now and then there is no worry about shipping time
p.s. TriHeart is a generic for Heartguard.

Janet Bradley

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:07:50 AM

I do the cheese trick that Glenda does. I use american cheese and buy it in its little pre-wrapped slices just for this purpose. Sunny has spit out many a pill. She will eat the interceptor, though. I have found that she seems to understand if she gets one piece of cheese and then eats the pill/cheese blob, she will be rewarded with the rest of the cheese. I tried those pill pockets and they did not work--she would eat the pill pocket and spit out the pill! Sunny had heartworms when I first got her, too. I like interceptor better b/c it prevents infestation by roundworms, hookworms and whipworms which she also had and was very sick from! So I am taking no chances. Heartguard Plus kills 2 of the 3 kinds of worms--can't remember which 2!

Sandy Gardner

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:09:10 AM

Sorry for the multiple answers (I guess I think in segments-ha). Anyway, for dogs that are difficult to pill, I used to use braunsweiger (they really love it) but have one big guy that catches on really quick. I bought Pill Pockets mfgd by Greenies and they are great! At the vet they were 12.98 per bag - uh, I don't think so! Found em right here on Dog.com for half of that. There are 30 per bag and I think the large size was 4.29 per bag (that is for 2 or more I think). I've been using these with Opie all summer and even though he knows there is med in there, he can't resist!

chewbecca

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:21:36 AM

Thanks, guys.

What about Sentinel?
Do any of you use that or have you, or what have you heard about it?

Janet Bradley

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:27:10 AM

I have not used it but my dad uses it on his 3 dogs--it is interceptor plus flea birth control that sterilizes the fleas so they can't reproduce. It is NOT an adulticide so if a flea jumps on the dog and bites the dog it will not instantly die. Some people advocate using it in addition to frontline or advantage for added control. My dad's dogs scratch sometimes and he finds the occasional flea but they are by no means infested. Me, fleas disgust me and Sunny got tapeworm from them twice in the beginning so I want them all dead. I am thinking of buying sentinel and using frontline but that is pricey. New Orleans is just ripe with fleas this summer--worse than usual according to my vet.

willowchow

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:32:57 AM

About the prices, I've compared three places. 1800-Pet-Meds is WAY too expensive so don't get anything from them. And, it's not just the shipping, the products are high too.

Dog.com (our forum host) has nice sales but I always compare with FosterSmith FIRST. Because although, dog.com may have the actual product cheaper, FosterSmith shipping is so low sometimes (I've paid as little as 2.99) that it ends up being cheaper from them in the end. I've talked to Jamie about this and they will match product prices but not shipping. So, FosterSmith gets my business even though I'd rather give it to Dog.com.

I don't use Sentinel myself, but a lot of people on my chow forum do and are very happy with it. I think it's nice to take where you live into consideration as far as how much protection you feel you need.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/13/2006 9:50:19 AM

I tried fosters and smith, and I didn't think of it when we were at the Vet on Friday (I didn't even know that it would be required), but I didn't get a script for heartworm or flea preventitive and Fosters and Smith requires a script from what I could tell.