Heartworm Medication Reactions

[Ellie May]

If your Yorkie has reacted to a heartworm medication, could you please post what happened and what brand you were using?

I am still going between Heartgard and Interceptor.
I have heard that Interceptor might be safer for Yorkies.
Has your vet told you this?

I don't like the dosing of either of these but I think they are the safest.
I am not worried about prevention of any other worms, fleas or ticks.

[PrincessDiana]

Franklin and Maggie have done very well on Interceptor. I disagree with my vet a little about the dosage they give us but overall we agree that it's a great, safe medication. I have never heard anything about Heartgard.

[Patti]

I had a male yorkie years ago that could not take the heartworm meds. He would throw up for days. I know use Revolution which is a topical heartworm and flea meds an my 4.

[nikkinack]

We use heartguard and the only issue is they have soft stool for about a day afterwards

[shecass]

I use to use Heartgard but now use Interceptor and have for years because they are suppose to prevent more intestinal worm infestations. I've never had an issue with either.

[Nancy1999]

Joey has been using Heartgard for about 2 years without any bad effects.

[LuvMySissy]

I just switched my girls to Interceptor. They had been on Sentinel, but in an effort to reduce unnecessary meds (and since my girls are pee pad trained), we went with Interceptor and are not using flea medication (again, my girls are not regularly outside and our shampoo has essential oils that act as a flea repellent).

I was considering Heartguard, but have recently heard about some severe reactions happening with many different dogs. And the smallest dose of Heartgard is for a 25 lb dog, whereas the Interceptor has a dose from 2-10 lbs.

If you do an internet search, you can compare the products and ingredients and you can also see how many reported reactions there have been in previous years. Sentinel had the least followed closely by Interceptor.

Hope this helps!!!

[BLowry]

Sadie is 3 yrs and Lillie is 2 yrs...I have only had them on heartgard..never had a problem with it.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

I just switched my girls to Interceptor. They had been on Sentinel, but in an effort to reduce unnecessary meds (and since my girls are pee pad trained), we went with Interceptor and are not using flea medication (again, my girls are not regularly outside and our shampoo has essential oils that act as a flea repellent).

I was considering Heartguard, but have recently heard about some severe reactions happening with many different dogs. And the smallest dose of Heartgard is for a 25 lb dog, whereas the Interceptor has a dose from 2-10 lbs.

If you do an internet search, you can compare the products and ingredients and you can also see how many reported reactions there have been in previous years. Sentinel had the least followed closely by Interceptor.

Hope this helps!!!

Yes it does help.
I have been Googling and Googling and Googling for days.
I have compared all of it but I really want to see how many dogs have reacted to both of these.

I did see those sites that say Heartgard is responsible for 6 deaths per year on average and 3?? reactions. Interceptor is about 9 deaths with fewer reaction than Heartgard, Sentinel about 6 and Revolution 36.

Were these dogs who reacted on Heartgard Yorkies?
I thought Interceptor was safer for smaller breeds but then I read somewhere today that Interceptor almost killed two toy dogs in one family, so that complicates things more.

Ellie has been on both and she isn't allergic to either but I am just so undecided. With Heartgard she is getting about 4 times what she needs and wtih Interceptor she is getting 5 times what she needs so they can claim it controls intestinal parasites.

There has also been some information about Heartworm meds not working as well as they should lately. So I don't know what to do. Has anyone heard about this? If it is either Heartgard or Interceptor having the problem, I would probably choose the other one.

I think I will buy one pill at a time for now until I decide what to do.

[RMKC]

What about if we broke the Heartguard in half and only give them half a dose ?
Have admit i havent been giving mine any, but just bought a 6 mo supply and now i am too scared to give it to them..... should i take it back ?

[LuvMySissy]

Originally Posted by RMKC

What about if we broke the Heartguard in half and only give them half a dose ?
Have admit i havent been giving mine any, but just bought a 6 mo supply and now i am too scared to give it to them..... should i take it back ?

I asked my vet this exact question since the smallest dose is for "up to 25 lbs". Her reponse was that the company says an emphatic "no" that the way the nugget is formed you have no way of knowing how much medication is in each section as it is not uniform.

My vet did also say that the least amount of reactions have been with the medication in Sentinel and Interceptor and that when you take away the flea meds from Sentinel, what you have is Interceptor. That is one reason I changed to Interceptor.

[MyFairLacy]

Lacy has been on heartgard since she was 3 months old (she'll be 4 next month) and she's never gotten sick after her monthly chew..and so far still heartworm free (although we're due for a HW test this year). Rylie just started Heartguard about 5 months ago and has done well on it as well so far.

You definitely don't want to half heartguard. The actual medicine is injected in that chew. One half may have the whole dose and one may have none... Always give the full amount

[yorkielover46]

My 5 lb. yorkie had a reation to Heartguard and my vet said not to give her any. She is an inside dog. I have her checked every yr. and she is fine, She has no shots except rabies required by law.

[mscat]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

I asked my vet this exact question since the smallest dose is for "up to 25 lbs". Her reponse was that the company says an emphatic "no" that the way the nugget is formed you have no way of knowing how much medication is in each section as it is not uniform.

My vet did also say that the least amount of reactions have been with the medication in Sentinel and Interceptor and that when you take away the flea meds from Sentinel, what you have is Interceptor. That is one reason I changed to Interceptor.

My vet just gave me the Sentinel for Suzi. It is for dogs under 10 lbs. I think she will be fine on that. the only thing is she has to eat first. the pill is $8 a piece where I live.

[Sandysbabies]

I give all three of mine Interceptor. Never had a problem. Kayla is the yorkie, Mandy and Tina are schnauzers. Kayla takes the least amount. It is a real tiny little pill. She has never had a problem, that goodness.