the more I research, the more scared I get

[R-Teddy]

Originally Posted by yorkiemom76

I work in a vet clinic and I haven't heard of any of our patients having a reaction to Trifexis. With that being said, I trust Heartgard more just because it's been around for so much longer. I have also given Trifexis when we get free samples with no problems though. I will say though if you don't trust Trifexis, you may not want to give Comfortis either. It has the same ingredient in it (spinosad) as Trifexis for killing fleas.

I appreciate the info. It is all over the internet however and news stations have done stories of people claiming trifexis is the cause of dogs death. Now mind you I dont know. I most certainly am not going to sit here and say trifexis kills, or that those dogs that did die for certain it was from that or they did not have underlying issues. I personally dont know and have never had a problem with trifexis. but, if there are other options, then why not switch rather then take the chance. TO the best of my knowledge, He doesnt have an allergy to fleas, so no reason for me to stick with it.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by R-Teddy

Ok in case your interested, I just started researching this and there is concern that some pets have been getting heartworm while taking revolution. You might want to research it if you havnt. again I have only just started. At the link below a person stated taht they love it, but thier vet has been urging them to switch because he ( the vet) has seen a few cases of dogs getting heartworm despite being on the revolution.

Problems with Revolution for dogs? - Yahoo Answers

Those stories are all anecdotal and are from 7 years ago. I've read scholarly articles that indicate that it is highly effective and well-tolerated. I'll look into it a little further tomorrow when I have access to the research journals and let you know what I find out.

Edit: I just found an article saying that the issue might be with topicals in general--you have to be sure that they come in contact with the skin so they are properly absorbed into the bloodstream. If you just put them on the hair, the dog won't get the active ingredient into its bloodstream.

[R-Teddy]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Those stories are all anecdotal and are from 7 years ago. I've read scholarly articles that indicate that it is highly effective and well-tolerated. I'll look into it a little further tomorrow when I have access to the research journals and let you know what I find out.

Awesome.

[yorkiemom76]

Originally Posted by R-Teddy

I appreciate the info. It is all over the internet however and news stations have done stories of people claiming trifexis is the cause of dogs death. Now mind you I dont know. I most certainly am not going to sit here and say trifexis kills, or that those dogs that did die for certain it was from that or they did not have underlying issues. I personally dont know and have never had a problem with trifexis. but, if there are other options, then why not switch rather then take the chance. TO the best of my knowledge, He doesnt have an allergy to fleas, so no reason for me to stick with it.

I'll have to look into this. I honestly hadn't heard all these things about Trifexis. The worst I'd heard is some vomiting if not given with a meal. That's scary. It's so hard to know whats right for our babies.

[R-Teddy]

Originally Posted by yorkiemom76

I'll have to look into this. I honestly hadn't heard all these things about Trifexis. The worst I'd heard is some vomiting if not given with a meal. That's scary. It's so hard to know whats right for our babies.

Here are some links I got from other post. Thats a start. Again I dont know either, but im not willing to take the chance with my babies that there is truth to the stories and find out the hard way that there is.

Owners blame 700 dog deaths on Trifexis | www.wsbtv.com

here is a thread where there is alot of argument about it and good points on both sides. only fair to show both I think.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...nyone-use.html

[yorkiemom76]

Originally Posted by R-Teddy

Here are some links I got from other post. Thats a start. Again I dont know either, but im not willing to take the chance with my babies that there is truth to the stories and find out the hard way that there is.

Owners blame 700 dog deaths on Trifexis | www.wsbtv.com

here is a thread where there is alot of argument about it and good points on both sides. only fair to show both I think.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...nyone-use.html

Thanks.

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Those stories are all anecdotal and are from 7 years ago. I've read scholarly articles that indicate that it is highly effective and well-tolerated. I'll look into it a little further tomorrow when I have access to the research journals and let you know what I find out.

Edit: I just found an article saying that the issue might be with topicals in general--you have to be sure that they come in contact with the skin so they are properly absorbed into the bloodstream. If you just put them on the hair, the dog won't get the active ingredient into its bloodstream.

There are members here who have had problems with trifexis, recently. So no these stories aren't all from 7 years ago.

[R-Teddy]

Originally Posted by McheleM

There are members here who have had problems with trifexis, recently. So no these stories aren't all from 7 years ago.

pstinard was talking about Revolution not Trifexis.

[sandy simpson]

Bless you for doing this research. I did a lot myself and in the past I used Revolution with no problems. Vet tried to give me triflexis but the side effects scared me. I hope we can find something safe for our dogs and stop using such strong poisons. I will keep looking into this too. One dog sick is not right!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by R-Teddy

Ok in case your interested, I just started researching this and there is concern that some pets have been getting heartworm while taking revolution. You might want to research it if you havnt. again I have only just started. At the link below a person stated taht they love it, but thier vet has been urging them to switch because he ( the vet) has seen a few cases of dogs getting heartworm despite being on the revolution.

Problems with Revolution for dogs? - Yahoo Answers

I have used Revolution for a long time and have never had heartworms in any dog. All my puppies go to new homes on the puppy Revolution. My vet had told me several years ago that there seemed to be a corelation to people not applying the Revolution correctly and the number of dogs that developed heartworms....separate the hair and be sure to get the medication directly onto the skin for effectiveness. I always rotate the site just about an inch or so, so that I am not putting the medication directly on the very same spot each month.....like a clock, @ 12-3-6-9....dont know if that is even necessary, but it makes me feel better about it in my mind!

[R-Teddy]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I have used Revolution for a long time and have never had heartworms in any dog. All my puppies go to new homes on the puppy Revolution. My vet had told me several years ago that there seemed to be a corelation to people not applying the Revolution correctly and the number of dogs that developed heartworms....separate the hair and be sure to get the medication directly onto the skin for effectiveness. I always rotate the site just about an inch or so, so that I am not putting the medication directly on the very same spot each month.....like a clock, @ 12-3-6-9....dont know if that is even necessary, but it makes me feel better about it in my mind!

I took Athena to her first vaccination today. We switched Zeus to Tri-heart plus which is a genaric form of heartgaurd. But for Athena he gave Revolution. He said we could switch her when she gets older if wanted. she is only 8 1/2 weeks old so I am a little Leary about putting it on her so soon. he said to wait a couple days since she just had her vaccinations.

How do you feel about putting it on a pup so young? she weighs 3.3 pounds.

[ladyjane]

I have used Heartgard and Sentinel for many years without any adverse effects. I used to use Advantage, but I don't have a flea problem here (not sure why) so I stopped using it about three years ago.

Those are the only products I have used and I have used them on all of my own pups and fosters.

[Wylie's Mom]

Geezh, I feel really lucky that we don't have to use flea products here.

What about trying Neem Oil? It's been used as a natural repellent for many years throughout the rest of the world and is becoming more popular here. You can make your own or buy a prepared spray.

Here are some natural products from Ark Naturals: All Flea Tick Products :: Natural Pet Products | Holistic Wellness & Remedy Items Dogs & Cats

[pstinard]

Hi,

I looked at the scholarly literature and found that Revolution is 100% effective against heartworms. I think that a problem with topicals not being effective is that people don't always use them properly. The drops are supposed to be put at the base of the hair in direct contact with skin so that the active ingredient can be absorbed properly into the blood. Sometimes if the dog is squirming, the drops get on the hair only, and not the skin. Here is a link to an article on Revolution (selamectin). It's behind a pay wall, but I believe that everyone can read the abstract. Just in case, I copied the abstract below:

Prevention of experimentally induced heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infections in dogs and cats with a single topical application of selamectin

Prevention of experimentally induced heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infections in dogs and cats with a single topical application of selamectin. McTiera et al. 2000. Veterinary Parasitology. Volume 91, Issues 3–4, 23 July 2000, Pages 259–268.

Abstract

In a series of six controlled studies (four in dogs, two in cats), heartworm-free dogs and cats were inoculated with Dirofilaria immitis larvae (L3) prior to topical treatment with the novel avermectin selamectin or a negative control containing inert formulation ingredients (vehicle). Selamectin and negative-control treatments were administered topically to the skin at the base of the neck in front of the scapulae. In dogs, selamectin was applied topically at dosages of 3 or 6 mg kg−1 at 30 days post-inoculation (PI), or of 3 or 6 mg kg−1 at 45 days PI, or of 6 mg kg−1 at 60 days PI. Cats were treated topically with unit doses providing a minimum dosage of 6 mg kg−1 selamectin at 30 days PI. Of the animals that were treated 30 days PI, some dogs were bathed with water or shampoo between 2 and 96 h after treatment, and some cats were bathed with shampoo at 24 h after treatment. Between 140 and 199 days PI, the animals were euthanized and examined for adult D. immitis. Adult heartworms developed in all control dogs (geometric mean count, 18.7 worms) and in 88% of control cats (geometric mean count, 2.1 worms). Selamectin was 100% effective in preventing heartworm development in dogs when administered as a single topical dose of 3 or 6 mg kg–1 at 30 days after infection, 3 or 6 mg kg−1 at 45 days after infection, or 6 mg kg−1 at 60 days after infection. Selamectin was 100% effective against heartworm infections in cats when administered as a single topical unit dose of 6 mg kg−1. Bathing with water or shampoo between 2 and 96 h after treatment did not reduce the efficacy of selamectin as a heartworm prophylactic in dogs. Likewise, bathing with shampoo at 24 h after treatment did not reduce the efficacy of selamectin in cats. These studies demonstrated that, at the recommended dosage and treatment interval, a single topical administration of selamectin was 100% effective in preventing the development of D. immitis in dogs and cats.

[P-Nut Mom]

We use Advantage Multi for both pups - no problems. I was using Trifexis for P-Nut for about 6 months. He was having significant GI issues that whole time, but I never associated it with the Trifexis. He was at the vet's at least once a month for vomiting and diarrhea. Then I read about suspected issues with it here on YT. There seemed to be a lot of anecdotal evidence but not much actual proof that Trifexis was the problem in numerous cases I read about, but I stopped using it anyway. We've been gastroenteritis free ever since! I checked to see if P-Nut getting sick could be correlated to the day I gave Trifexis and it was usually about 4 days after he got his monthly dose that he became ill.

Like the OP, my research into flea, etc meds just made me afraid to give anything, but the Advantage has been fine.