Piper Girl and Trifexis

[yorkiemom76]

I've used Trifexis with no problems and I work in a vet clinic and the worst side effect we have seen from it is some nausea and vomiting if not given with a meal. With that being said, I've never seen any of our vets recommend giving it to a dog under 5 pounds. They always suggest something else, ususally Revolution because you can get it in an under 5 pound dose. I have one Yorkie that only weighs about 3 1/2 pounds and no way would I ever give him Trifexis.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

It is so sad that we have to question everything for our pups....but, just like human doctors, some vets are better than others. Bottom line is that we must always take an active role in our own and our pups' medical care.

Remember that you can ALWAYS just say NO! if you are not comfortable with a new drug or procedure or treratment....become thoroughly and accurately educated on whatever it is you are thinking about, and if you are not comfortable with what is being proposed, dont allow it to happen, based on actual outcomes and research and statistics, NOT opinions or convenience! I do not like those shots they have come up with for treatment of heartworms......still researching that but years ago (1967) there was a shot you could give a female to keep her from coming into season. We were giving it to my little Chihuahua, and after 3 years, she developed a bleeding issue and she ended up hemorrhaging to death. I have NEVER given shots to prevent heat cycles or heartworms or parasites since, and I personally never will. I am thrilled you did NOT give that shot to poor little Piper.....with all that baby has been through, I would get mosquito repellant spray you can get at any feed store, and I would spray her with that spray before she went outside!

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by windsantz

Don't worry Linda. She nor Piccolo or any of my future babies will ever get this poison.

Here is some more information about ProHeart 6 from drugs.com:

Warnings

ProHeart 6 should be administered with caution in dogs with pre-existing allergic disease, including food allergy, atopy, and flea allergy dermatitis. In some cases, anaphylactic reactions have resulted in liver disease and death.

Do not administer ProHeart 6 to dogs who are sick, debilitated, underweight or who have a history of weight loss.
Precautions

Caution should be used when administering ProHeart 6 concurrently with vaccinations. Adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported following the concomitant use of ProHeart 6 and vaccinations (see WARNINGS).
Prior to administration of ProHeart 6, the health of the patient should be assessed by a thorough medical history, physical examination and diagnostic testing as indicated (see WARNINGS).


Adverse Reactions

In field studies, the following adverse reactions were observed in dogs treated with ProHeart 6: anaphylaxis, vomiting, diarrhea (with and without blood), listlessness, weight loss, seizures, injection site pruritus, and elevated body temperature. Dogs with clinically significant weight loss (>10%) were more likely to experience a severe adverse reaction.
In a laboratory effectiveness study, dogs with 4- and 6-month-old heartworm infections experienced vomiting, lethargy and bloody diarrhea. These signs were more severe in the dogs with 4-month-old heartworm infections, including one dog that was recumbent and required supportive care, than in the dogs with older (6-month-old) infections.
Post-Approval Experience (Rev. 2010) The following adverse events are based on post-approval adverse drug experience reporting. Not all adverse reactions are reported to FDA/CVM. It is not always possible to reliably estimate the adverse event frequency or establish a causal relationship to product exposure using these data. The following adverse events are listed in decreasing order of frequency by body system.
Immune: anaphylaxis and/or anaphylactoid reactions, urticaria, head/facial edema, pruritus, pale mucous membranes, collapse, cardiovascular shock, erythema, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (signs reflected in other system categories could be related to allergic reactions, i.e. gastrointestinal, dermatologic, and hematologic)
Gastrointestinal: vomiting (with or without blood), diarrhea with or without blood, hypersalivation
General: depression, lethargy, anorexia, fever, weight loss, weakness
Dermatological: injection site pruritus/swelling, erythema multiforme
Neurological: seizures, ataxia, trembling, hind limb paresis
Hematological: leukocytosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia
Respiratory: dyspnea, tachypnea, coughing
Hepatic: elevated liver enzymes, hypoproteinemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hepatopathy
Urinary: elevated BUN, elevated creatinine, hematuria, polydipsia, polyuria
Cardiopulmonary signs such as coughing and dyspnea may occur in heartworm positive dogs treated with ProHeart 6.
In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of the adverse events listed above.

ProHeart 6 for Animal Use - Drugs.com

For a vet to say that there hasn't been any liver toxicity reported with ProHeart 6 is negligent to say the least.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Remember that you can ALWAYS just say NO! if you are not comfortable with a new drug or procedure or treratment....become thoroughly and accurately educated on whatever it is you are thinking about, and if you are not comfortable with what is being proposed, dont allow it to happen, based on actual outcomes and research and statistics, NOT opinions or convenience! I do not like those shots they have come up with for treatment of heartworms......still researching that but years ago (1967) there was a shot you could give a female to keep her from coming into season. We were giving it to my little Chihuahua, and after 3 years, she developed a bleeding issue and she ended up hemorrhaging to death. I have NEVER given shots to prevent heat cycles or heartworms or parasites since, and I personally never will. I am thrilled you did NOT give that shot to poor little Piper.....with all that baby has been through, I would get mosquito repellant spray you can get at any feed store, and I would spray her with that spray before she went outside!

I read up on every medicine and procedure that is given to Bella, even something as common as Metacam.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Here is some more information about ProHeart 6 from drugs.com:

Warnings

ProHeart 6 should be administered with caution in dogs with pre-existing allergic disease, including food allergy, atopy, and flea allergy dermatitis. In some cases, anaphylactic reactions have resulted in liver disease and death.

Do not administer ProHeart 6 to dogs who are sick, debilitated, underweight or who have a history of weight loss.
Precautions

Caution should be used when administering ProHeart 6 concurrently with vaccinations. Adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported following the concomitant use of ProHeart 6 and vaccinations (see WARNINGS).
Prior to administration of ProHeart 6, the health of the patient should be assessed by a thorough medical history, physical examination and diagnostic testing as indicated (see WARNINGS).


Adverse Reactions

In field studies, the following adverse reactions were observed in dogs treated with ProHeart 6: anaphylaxis, vomiting, diarrhea (with and without blood), listlessness, weight loss, seizures, injection site pruritus, and elevated body temperature. Dogs with clinically significant weight loss (>10%) were more likely to experience a severe adverse reaction.
In a laboratory effectiveness study, dogs with 4- and 6-month-old heartworm infections experienced vomiting, lethargy and bloody diarrhea. These signs were more severe in the dogs with 4-month-old heartworm infections, including one dog that was recumbent and required supportive care, than in the dogs with older (6-month-old) infections.
Post-Approval Experience (Rev. 2010) The following adverse events are based on post-approval adverse drug experience reporting. Not all adverse reactions are reported to FDA/CVM. It is not always possible to reliably estimate the adverse event frequency or establish a causal relationship to product exposure using these data. The following adverse events are listed in decreasing order of frequency by body system.
Immune: anaphylaxis and/or anaphylactoid reactions, urticaria, head/facial edema, pruritus, pale mucous membranes, collapse, cardiovascular shock, erythema, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (signs reflected in other system categories could be related to allergic reactions, i.e. gastrointestinal, dermatologic, and hematologic)
Gastrointestinal: vomiting (with or without blood), diarrhea with or without blood, hypersalivation
General: depression, lethargy, anorexia, fever, weight loss, weakness
Dermatological: injection site pruritus/swelling, erythema multiforme
Neurological: seizures, ataxia, trembling, hind limb paresis
Hematological: leukocytosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia
Respiratory: dyspnea, tachypnea, coughing
Hepatic: elevated liver enzymes, hypoproteinemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hepatopathy
Urinary: elevated BUN, elevated creatinine, hematuria, polydipsia, polyuria
Cardiopulmonary signs such as coughing and dyspnea may occur in heartworm positive dogs treated with ProHeart 6.
In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of the adverse events listed above.

ProHeart 6 for Animal Use - Drugs.com

For a vet to say that there hasn't been any liver toxicity reported with ProHeart 6 is negligent to say the least.

I have to say that I am stunned that he saw no issue with it. I have written to another vet with more experience for an opinion. I don't wish to trash a vet, but I am very concerned.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by windsantz

Linda, You are not going to like this response from Dr. Ramsey.


Trifexis and ProHeart 6 have not been linked to cause liver toxicity or failure and are both safe to give in liver compromised patients.

Trifexis is a great all in one product, but it does not provide any tick prevention. If you use trifexis, you will still need something with a tick preventative such as frontline.

Let me know if you have any other questions and I hope Piper continues to do well.

Thanks,

Grant Ramsey, DVM

Please read the prescribing information I just posted for ProHeart 6 that describes liver toxicity. I would definitely be looking for a new vet.

[MauiGirl]

All I can say is WOW! Bobbi and Linda I think you are on the right track here in determining a possible cause of Piper's almost fatal illness.

Thankfully you have intervened before she got any more toxic stuff.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Please read the prescribing information I just posted for ProHeart 6 that describes liver toxicity. I would definitely be looking for a new vet.

He is an intern. The other vet who oversaw her care is off today. I am getting the opinion of another one...but it won't matter to me what he says. He is not going to say anything that will totally contradict; but I will bet he will have a conversation with the intern. That place saved her life but I can tell you this...if I go there with one of my pups I will not be relying on that intern's advice. I found him to be knowledgeable (book wise), but I don't know what kind of experience he has with really sick pups. I personally think he has much to learn. I usually ask to see the house vets anyway.

[windsantz]

I don't know what I would have done If I had never found this Forum.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

He is an intern. The other vet who oversaw her care is off today. I am getting the opinion of another one...but it won't matter to me what he says. He is not going to say anything that will totally contradict; but I will bet he will have a conversation with the intern. That place saved her life but I can tell you this...if I go there with one of my pups I will not be relying on that intern's advice. I found him to be knowledgeable (book wise), but I don't know what kind of experience he has with really sick pups. I personally think he has much to learn. I usually ask to see the house vets anyway.

If he's an intern, then he's still learning, so I won't too hard on him. I'm glad that we could help Piper out, and I hope they are able to get to the bottom of the problems she was having, and at least rule Trifexis in or out as a cause of her problems.

[107barney]

No one is perfect. I think he did save her life. She had the deck stacked against her. I've seen wayyyy worse vets and been subject to bigger errors. It is why we need to be advocates for our pets.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

If he's an intern, then he's still learning, so I won't too hard on him. I'm glad that we could help Piper out, and I hope they are able to get to the bottom of the problems she was having, and at least rule Trifexis in or out as a cause of her problems.

I doubt anyone will go out on a limb and say that Trifexis was the cause; but I can tell you I am highly suspect now. Bobbie and Tony have scoured their home and yard and found nothing. This just happened to come up in conversation this morning and a little bell rang in my head.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by windsantz

I don't know what I would have done If I had never found this Forum.

I am SO glad you did. I am sure Piper would not have made it. Divine intervention is what I think it was!

[windsantz]

I am not a very happy camper right now. My vet clinic came highly recommended when we moved to our new area. They have at least 6 vets at the clinic and it is ran so smooth. But, 2 of these vets have now recommended potentially harmful med's for my babies. I know everything comes with side effects. But, to say it is ok to give a 3lb and 4.2lb baby Trifexis even tho it is for dogs 5lbs and up. I trusted my vet to give me good advice. And now a different vet who has been seeing Piper since she got sick has recommended the ProHeart 6 knowing how sick my Piper Girl has been. And one of the side effects is Liver Failure. Are you Frikken kidding me. I think I need to find me a new vet.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by windsantz

I am not a very happy camper right now. My vet clinic came highly recommended when we moved to our new area. They have at least 6 vets at the clinic and it is ran so smooth. But, 2 of these vets have now recommended potentially harmful med's for my babies. I know everything comes with side effects. But, to say it is ok to give a 3lb and 4.2lb baby Trifexis even tho it is for dogs 5lbs and up. I trusted my vet to give me good advice. And now a different vet who has been seeing Piper since she got sick has recommended the ProHeart 6 knowing how sick my Piper Girl has been. And one of the side effects is Liver Failure. Are you Frikken kidding me. I think I need to find me a new vet.

Indeed. Don't feel bad, I'm on my 7th or 8th vet in 14 years. Just get all your records before you say buh-bye.