Heartworm Preventative & Phenobarb - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tshepardperez · 09-03-2009, 07:14 PM

My Diego is almost 5 years old and was diagnosed with epilepsy about 2 years ago. He was on heartworm prevention but I discontinued it after his diagnosis. I was wondering if there's anyone out there who's yorkie baby is on phenobarb AND heartworm meds that could give me some info about side effects of the two meds being combined.

Wylie's Mom · 09-05-2009, 06:21 AM

Just bumping this for you. I don't know about combining the 2 meds or if there is an effect. Did your vet have any thoughts about it? If no one here has a similar situation, you could also try emailing/calling the company who makes the heartworm pill you want to try.

I think some people whose dogs have seizures prefer Interceptor.

Ladymom · 09-05-2009, 06:46 AM

Lady has been on Phenobarbital for ten years. She also gets a monthly heartworm pill with no problems. Lady has been on multiple medications along with her seizure medication per her vet with no side effects. The only thing you really have to watch is medication that makes them drowsy as Phenobarbital already is sedating. Lady takes Zyrtec for allergies as other veterinary antihistamines and Benadryl make her "drunk".

I would not want to take a chance on heartworms as the treatment itself can be so dangerous.

Make sure you use Interceptor for heartworm prevention, not Heartguard. Heartguard/Ivermectin has been shown to lower the seizure threshold in some dogs.

Are you giving Diego milk thistle/Marin to protect his liver from Phenobarbital? Pheno will destroy his liver over time. I have been giving Lady milk thistle practically from day one. She showed signs of liver damage (ALT 300) a few years ago. I added Denosyl and now homecook a liver diet for her and her ALT is back down to 79. My vet is amazed that a dog who has been on Pheno for over ten years has normal liver values.

tshepardperez · 09-05-2009, 07:44 AM

Thanks Wyliemom and Ladymom! I really appreciate your advice. Only thing is I just gave Diego his first dose of TriHeart Plus on Thursday! I pray all goes well with it until his next dose, which will be Interceptor! I know about milkthistle but have not started him on it yet. My vet is aware and will soon be starting him on it. He just recently had his dosage increased so we're trying to see how he does with it before starting him on anything else. His liver came back perfectly healthy (Praise God) but his phenobarb levels were very low (at a 10 when he's supposed to be at a 15). We're still fairly new to the "epi" group for he was diagnosed maybe 2 years ago. He's had maybe 6 seizures altogether. It's a scary "place" to be in but I am determined to keep him well! Again, thanks for the idea of Interceptor. I have read that just about everyone who has an "epi" dog uses it.

Ladymom · 09-05-2009, 08:21 AM

I really recommend Marin as it also contains Vitamin E. If you give milk thistle alone you have to give Vitamin E separately.

I absolutely swear by milk thistle. Lady has to take the highest possible dose of pheno for her size because she has cluster seizures. We also had to add potassium bromide to control them, although that isn't processed through the liver. As I said, Lady's vet is amazed that her ALT is only 79 after 10+ years on such a high dose of pheno.

I get it from Entirely Pets. Diego will only need 1/4 tablet so a bottle will last you several months.

Marin for Small to Medium Dogs (30 Tablets)

tshepardperez · 09-06-2009, 03:29 PM

LadyMom, you are awesome! I've spoken to his vet about the Interceptor and mentioned the milkthistle. I will ordering the milk thistle, hopefully, this week and the Inceptor next month! You don't know what your advice means to me! God bless you and may He continue to watch over Lady!

Ladymom · 09-06-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tshepardperez

LadyMom, you are awesome! I've spoken to his vet about the Interceptor and mentioned the milkthistle. I will ordering the milk thistle, hopefully, this week and the Inceptor next month! You don't know what your advice means to me! God bless you and may He continue to watch over Lady!

Ah, you're so sweet!

09-03-2009, 07:14 PM	#1
tshepardperez Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Spring, Tx, USA Posts: 13	Heartworm Preventative & Phenobarb My Diego is almost 5 years old and was diagnosed with epilepsy about 2 years ago. He was on heartworm prevention but I discontinued it after his diagnosis. I was wondering if there's anyone out there who's yorkie baby is on phenobarb AND heartworm meds that could give me some info about side effects of the two meds being combined.

09-05-2009, 06:21 AM	#2
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Just bumping this for you. I don't know about combining the 2 meds or if there is an effect. Did your vet have any thoughts about it? If no one here has a similar situation, you could also try emailing/calling the company who makes the heartworm pill you want to try. I think some people whose dogs have seizures prefer Interceptor. __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

09-05-2009, 06:46 AM	#3
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	Lady has been on Phenobarbital for ten years. She also gets a monthly heartworm pill with no problems. Lady has been on multiple medications along with her seizure medication per her vet with no side effects. The only thing you really have to watch is medication that makes them drowsy as Phenobarbital already is sedating. Lady takes Zyrtec for allergies as other veterinary antihistamines and Benadryl make her "drunk". I would not want to take a chance on heartworms as the treatment itself can be so dangerous. Make sure you use Interceptor for heartworm prevention, not Heartguard. Heartguard/Ivermectin has been shown to lower the seizure threshold in some dogs. Are you giving Diego milk thistle/Marin to protect his liver from Phenobarbital? Pheno will destroy his liver over time. I have been giving Lady milk thistle practically from day one. She showed signs of liver damage (ALT 300) a few years ago. I added Denosyl and now homecook a liver diet for her and her ALT is back down to 79. My vet is amazed that a dog who has been on Pheno for over ten years has normal liver values. __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

09-05-2009, 08:21 AM	#5
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	I really recommend Marin as it also contains Vitamin E. If you give milk thistle alone you have to give Vitamin E separately. I absolutely swear by milk thistle. Lady has to take the highest possible dose of pheno for her size because she has cluster seizures. We also had to add potassium bromide to control them, although that isn't processed through the liver. As I said, Lady's vet is amazed that her ALT is only 79 after 10+ years on such a high dose of pheno. I get it from Entirely Pets. Diego will only need 1/4 tablet so a bottle will last you several months. Marin for Small to Medium Dogs (30 Tablets) __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

09-05-2009, 07:44 AM	#4
tshepardperez Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Spring, Tx, USA Posts: 13	Thanks Wyliemom and Ladymom! I really appreciate your advice. Only thing is I just gave Diego his first dose of TriHeart Plus on Thursday! I pray all goes well with it until his next dose, which will be Interceptor! I know about milkthistle but have not started him on it yet. My vet is aware and will soon be starting him on it. He just recently had his dosage increased so we're trying to see how he does with it before starting him on anything else. His liver came back perfectly healthy (Praise God) but his phenobarb levels were very low (at a 10 when he's supposed to be at a 15). We're still fairly new to the "epi" group for he was diagnosed maybe 2 years ago. He's had maybe 6 seizures altogether. It's a scary "place" to be in but I am determined to keep him well! Again, thanks for the idea of Interceptor. I have read that just about everyone who has an "epi" dog uses it.

09-06-2009, 03:29 PM	#6
tshepardperez Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Spring, Tx, USA Posts: 13	LadyMom, you are awesome! I've spoken to his vet about the Interceptor and mentioned the milkthistle. I will ordering the milk thistle, hopefully, this week and the Inceptor next month! You don't know what your advice means to me! God bless you and may He continue to watch over Lady!