Hi,
Just want to know if a lot of you on the forum use these. I have been giving them to Kona and I just read a disturbing article about them causing seizures. Does anyone have information on this?
I do vaguely recall reading an rather alarmist article a while back about one of the flea medications, but don't recall where, or if they cited their sources for what they were saying. However, I've used both of them for my dogs, including a GSD who hasn't been tested for the MDR-1 mutation, with no issues. Down here on the Gulf coast, if a dog isn't on heartworm prevention, it's almost a given that they will wind up HW+, and the fleas are atrocious.
Discussed this concern with my vet and her response was .......
Just like all medications ...there can be side effects.
BUT ......without use of these medications there can also be harsh consequences ......so she encouraged me to continue use of these preventatives and to make sure it was the appropriate dosage based on my dogs weight.
Lady brings up a very good point ! About there weight - I was at the Vets a few weeks ago - And while there - picked up some Heartguard + -- The Vet tech along with the Vet said that the one I give Mr. B is up to 100 lb. he weighed in at 101 back In the winter but drops to around the mid 90's or less In the summer - he is border line on the rate - or the way I look at it - he's maxed out on the dose - To little and you are defeating the purpose of giving it to them in the first place - Now I give one tablet for up to 100 lb.s plus one for 25 lb.s - that should cover him . Just something to think about or ask your Vet .
You have to remember that ANY medication has the potential for side effects. Discuss with your veterinarian what the incidence of side effects are. Has there been seizures reported in 1% of dogs using the medication? Less than 1% What are the most common side effects? What has YOUR vet seen, and how often? How often have they used the medication and for how long? How common is the disease you are trying to prevent? What is their recommendation? Is is SO MUCH more useful to have this conversation with your veterinarian, who is actually trained in this, than it is to read random information on the internet, where you can find (unverified) horror stories. We seem to have gotten to a place where we don't trust our veterinarians, who have gone through many, many years of school and have lots of training to help us make these decisions. A great relationship with your vet is invaluable - you should be able to trust them and ask them these questions.
I personally would NEVER skip heartworm preventative. I've had a dog go through heartworm treatment (he came into rescue heartworm positive). I'd never risk that again...it was horrible for him and he had permanent damage to his heart. For us, the risk of side effects is absolutely tiny compared to the high risk of heartworm here in Minnesota. We use Interceptor and have never had a single side effect.
(PS - I also use flea/tick preventative with no issues and will continue to do so, despite people screaming on the internet about the horrors of flea/tick preventative and why I should use "natural" products. There is no way I'm putting my dogs in danger of contracting any number of flea borne disease here in tick country if I can help it.)
I have used Heartguard with my last 3 Dobes with no problems at all. Just started using Nexguard about the last year and half of Baron's life and started Miley on it now with no problems. Miley's mom said she always had a problem with her being allergic to Frontline so she stopped putting anything on her or giving her anything but that is not an option up here.
I realize that lots of folks are afraid to use Trifexis, because of possible side effects. Still... I've been using it for McCoy since he was old enough to tolerate it. He has never, in almost 4 years, had a single issue.
Heartguard has been on the market practically forever--it was one of the very first heartworm controls after the one a day pill types. I've never heard of it being suspect in causing seizures. Nexguard--I don't know--I've kind of ignored the newer flea/tick/heartworm controls since I use Interceptor Plus and Advantage--oral for heartworm control and topical for the Advantage.
I'll pick up our new protocol sheet when I'm in the clinic tending to the clinic cats and boarders on Sunday. It's got information on all of the newer ones that we carry as well as some of the old standards.
We have been using Heartgard for many years with all of our dogs with no ill side effects. We started using Nexgard about 3 years ago and have never experienced any ill side effects.
I’ve always used interceptor for heart worm prevention and frontline for fleas and ticks
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