Which heartworm preventative do you use?

[AllDogBoots]

I use Sentinel for Cooper and Revolution for Max. Crystal, I'm glad you asked this question as I remember seeing a comment from you recently about not using Revolution for heartworm. I was going to ask you about that.

[Ellie May]

I think a big part of it is trusting that what the vet is prescribing is working well in your area of the country.

None of them are 100% effective. However, the info from the FDA about reactions and all the reports online about vet offices not carrying it anymore because of lack of effectiveness against heartworms does concern me. I won't use it for my own dog (unless she reacted to most everything else), nor do I suggest it for my family's dogs. Ellie's vet also does not go to this drug unless an owner wants to use it.

There are just older, more trusted drugs with potentially better track records. Of course in the near future when the MP3 strain will likely spread, more people will be switching to Advantage Multi (my guess anyway).

Do what you're vet is comfortable with and take my ramblings with a grain of salt. What I do or what Ellie's vet does may or may not be right. lol

[Princess10]

I have a question that may sound dumb, but do all of the heartworm preventatives protect against the other common parasites as well?

[ltret0294]

Sentinel for Zipp and HeartGard for the younger ones.

[Ellie May]

Heartgard does just heart.
Heargard Plus does heart, round, and hook.
Interceptor does heart, round, hook, and whip.
Sentinel does heart, round, hook, whip, and it adds a chitin inhibitor to stop fleas from reproducing.
Revolution does heart, round, hook, fleas, and ticks.
Advantage Multi does heart, round, hook, and whip, and fleas.

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Heartgard does just heart.
Heargard Plus does heart, round, and hook.
Interceptor does heart, round, hook, and whip.
Sentinel does heart, round, hook, whip, and it adds a chitin inhibitor to stop fleas from reproducing.
Revolution does heart, round, hook, fleas, and ticks.
Advantage Multi does heart, round, hook, and whip, and fleas.

Thanks. She's on Interceptor & will be on Frontline Plus most likely. Seems adequate, hopefully anyways.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Heartgard does just heart.
Heargard Plus does heart, round, and hook.
Interceptor does heart, round, hook, and whip.
Sentinel does heart, round, hook, whip, and it adds a chitin inhibitor to stop fleas from reproducing.
Revolution does heart, round, hook, fleas, and ticks.
Advantage Multi does heart, round, hook, and whip, and fleas.

Thanks! What a great way to show the difference for all them!

[MyTrixie143]

Mine are all on revolution. We've used it for years and has always worked great for us. I love the advantage of 2 medicines in one (heartworm and fleas).

What have you heard about Advantage Multi? I'm thinking about switching, any thoughts?

[AllDogBoots]

Thanks Crystal for the explanation.

Originally Posted by MyTrixie143

Mine are all on revolution. We've used it for years and has always worked great for us. I love the advantage of 2 medicines in one (heartworm and fleas).

What have you heard about Advantage Multi? I'm thinking about switching, any thoughts?

Why are you thinking about switching if it's always worked great?

[Ellie May]

It is supposed to be the most effective against a new strain of heartworm, but that seems to be isolated around the Mississippi area right now.

I have always hesitated to go with it because it contains moxidectin (the main ingredient in Proheart 6), but it is becoming pretty obvious that the problem with that drug was the preservative. I still don't use it because we usually steer clear of new products here until they are proven safe and effective (and I don't want to give a flea preventative during the winter), but maybe someday I'll switch to it.

For now we'll stick with Sentinel, Interceptor, and Heartgard because they have proven themselves over a long period.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

It is supposed to be the most effective against a new strain of heartworm, but that seems to be isolated around the Mississippi area right now.

I have always hesitated to go with it because it contains moxidectin (the main ingredient in Proheart 6), but it is becoming pretty obvious that the problem with that drug was the preservative. I still don't use it because we usually steer clear of new products here until they are proven safe and effective (and I don't want to give a flea preventative during the winter), but maybe someday I'll switch to it.

For now we'll stick with Sentinel, Interceptor, and Heartgard because they have proven themselves over a long period.

If you give your dog Sentinel are you also giving another medication for ticks?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

If you give your dog Sentinel are you also giving another medication for ticks?

Ticks aren't a problem here. We stay away from wooded areas and that works for us. If ticks were an issue, I'd use Frontline Plus. And if that didn't work, I'd consider either the Preventix collar for outside time or Advantix.