[OwnedByJezebel]

Program Plus has the same active ingredients as Sentinel (and both are made by Novartis Animal Health), and I have used Sentinel for years without any problems and with excellent results.

However, I'm surprised you can get it. I took my two in for their annual checkup and vaccinations this past Thursday, not knowing which direction I would go in for heartworm/flea preventative. I had been reading (mostly here) that the plant where Novartis makes Sentinel and Interceptor (along with some human meds, like Excedrine and gas-X) was shut down for inspection late last year. There is no estimate on when they will be back in production, and the vet tech said that there were rumors that they would never start up again. (Let me stress, she just said it was a rumor). When she went to check their supply, indeed they had some for the sizes of other dogs, but they were out in the size that I needed.

I ended up going with Trifexis, which is another that is a single monthly dose for heartworm, intestinal worms, and fleas.

The difference between Program Plus (or Sentinel) and Trifexis is that the active ingredient for flea control. The flea control ingredient for Program Plus (and Sentinel) is Lufenuron, and the flea control used in Trifexis is spinosad. Lufenuron controls fleas by not allowing eggs to hatch, disrupting the life cycle. Spinosad works by killing adult fleas.

I bought a six-month supply of Trifexis, and it was pricey (about $20 more for a six-month supply, per dog). Hopefully Novartis will get their plant problems straightened out and I can go back to the Sentinel when I am out of the Trifexis.

I wouldn't hesitate to use Program Plus or Sentinel if I could get it. If you vet still has it in stock, get a full year's supply.

I hear you re topicals, I don't want to go that way, either.