Heartguard and Interceptor
 

Is Heartguard and Interceptor the same?
If my dog was on Hearguard, but Interceptor was a better price, can I switch or should I stay on Heartguard.

Also, who uses something for heartworm and something for fleas and ticks?

My dad, and other people I know will NOT give their dogs this because they say it is poison to their systems.

What do y'all think?

It is poison but the treatment for heartworms is much worse.
Fleas meds are usually optional.

Heartgard and Interceptor are different.
The main ingredient in Heartgard is Ivermectin and the main ingredient in Interceptor is Milbemycin Oxime.

You can change from one to the other if you want but I'd see what the vet says.

Thanks for the info.
But just because the main ingredients are different, does that mean one is better than the other?

Thanks.

Zoey, Toby and Lulu were given Interceptor by my vet. He said in his experience the smaller dogs did better on the Interceptor and had no adverse reactions vs when he gave them heartguard. So I have continued with that.

For fleas I give mine a Brewers Yeast tablet with garlic. Nothing else.

Does anyone use Frontline on their Yorksters?
My vet gave me that.
Just wondering if people like or dislike it?
Let me know!

If I remember correctly a few folks complained that their babies got a bit sick with the frontline. One complained that their pup was itching something awful.

Do a search and see what comes up. Personally I rather go as holistically as I can...so that is why I do the brewers yeast w/ garlic. The heartworm I really have no choice but to do the chemicals.

When I got my heartworm prev. from the vet he gave me inceptor. I decided to start buying it online and got heartquard. I think one is as good as the other

I use Frontline for fleas and ticks on all 4 of my yorkies, luckily I have not had any problems with this product, I have used it for 5 years. I also use Tri-Heart , it is generic for Heartguard{half the price}, I have used it for 5 years with no problems.


Jackson:aimeeyork Gracie:aimeeyork Tucker:aimeeyork Rosey:aimeeyork

This is one of those questions that have opinions from both ends of the scale....I for one am on the side of "no heartworm" treatment...I don't like calling it "medication" because it is an insecticide, which is a poison.....

I refuse to use this type of product for a couple of reasons....as stated before it is a poison. I have to weigh the risk to benefit ratio and I just can't justify putting this on my dog and having it in his system day after day for years at a time hoping ( to justify the use) that a mosquito might bite my dog and that mosquito might be carrying the larvae for heartworm.

Revolution was only tested for anywhere from 3 days to 10 months before it was approved for use. It was only tested to see if it killed the larvae. It was not tested for long term side effects.

Advantage Duo was only tested for 5 months. There where no long term tests for side effects from repetitive use with this product either.

This was copied from a holistic site:
The potential side effects of Ivermectin (the active ingredient in Heartgard) include liver problems, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, lethargy, skin eruptions, seizures, tremors, paralysis, autoimmune disorders, thyroid problems, fever, weakness, dizziness, coughing, nose bleeds, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, irritability, sudden aggressive behavior, nerve damage, fertility problems, and sudden death. The drug poses a particular risk to Collies and related breeds. Other chemical heartworm preventatives have many of the same side effects. In his book "The Nature of Animal Healing", Dr. Martin Goldstein states that he believes that much of the cancer and liver disease we see in dogs today is the result of years of treatment with heartworm preventatives. 98% of the dogs in his NY practice (including of course his own dogs) aren't on any heartworm preventative.

It makes no sense to me to use these products when there are alternatives, like sprays, to keep mosquitoes away and off your pet, like this....

Happytails Flea the Scene Insect Spray with Sunscreen: PL50029_Happytails_Spa_Flea_The_Scene Paw Luxury

You can also use "Organic Apple Cider Vinegar" in your dog's water or food may be useful at making your dog smell less tasty to mosquitos. Don't use apple cider vinegar (ACV) if you are using plastic, aluminum, or galvanized watering containers as the ACV will leach the plasticizers out of the plastic and the metals out of aluminum or galvanized containers.

Keep your dog indoors during heavy mosquito hours at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes are usually sleeping by 11:00 pm.

Small amounts of raw garlic in your dog's daily food can help make them less tasty to mosquitoes.

Do a heartworm test once or twice a year.

Each of us have to decide what we will put "on/ in" our pets, we all have to make a judgment call on what risks we are willing to take. We have to decide how "at risk" are we actually are at, or are we operating on exaggerated fears. Where we live also has to be factored in. I live in the north so I feel I'm at less of a risk than someone in Florida because of the winter months.....I also don't understand why this product is being used during the winter months in the northern states when the risk is near zero for contracting heartworm. :confused: I feel this is a very potent insecticide and it shouldn't be given so lightly as if it has no risks, it does have real and potentiality dangerous risks.

Here's a heartworm map....

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/down...cidencemap.jpg

This is a decision only you can make.....Good luck.....P.S. Sorry this is so long, it just seemed too important to just add one or two sentences. lol

We use Interceptor. I am planning to give it only every other month, since the medication effective kills any larvae for up to 60 days.

The medication in Interceptor has had much less adverse reaction than the medication in Heartguard. Heartguard's smallest dose goes up to a 25 lb dog also, whereas Interceptor has a dose for a 2-10 lb dog. In our area, Interceptor is also less expensive than Heartguard.

We don't use flea protection as our shampoos are full of essential oils that are natural flea repellants, as are our coat sprays.

Jodie, where did you find out that it lasts for 60?
I'm hearing that it "might" last 2-3 weeks longer than what the package says.
I would really like to only give it every other.


And I don't know why people in the north use it year-round.
I use it 6-9 months a year.

I asked my vet about only giving it till December than starting it up again in March and she said every time you take them off the need testing, and this and that.
She said it is just better to stay on it year round (and I am from the north).
The mosquitoes LOVE my blood because I am Portuguese, so I am afraid if they are around me, they might get to Buddy.
But with the weather still being in the 70's now, there are still mosquitoes out now, not as bad, but I still see them.

What kind of shampoo can I use for flee and tick (and how long does it last).
I think my dog may be itching not because of ear mites, but because I did just give him his first dose of Frontline about a week ago. That can explain it all!

Now I feel bad, because he is scratching so hard, I don't want him to bleed :(

My dogs had vomiting when I tried Heartguard so I use Interceptor. I use it every 45 days from April to Oct. I have never used anything for fleas and wouldn't use heartworm meds but I had a dog die from heartworms and would never take the chance of this happening again. It is a horrible death

My vet gave me iverhart max?

Crystal - check out this blog for information on the length of treatment. I will definitely be discussing this with my vet, but for now and going to every other month!!!

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