You may be aware of the claims that Trifexis oral flea and heart worm treatment is causing dog deaths in the thousands. Here are the facts, and you can choose for yourself what treatment and preventatives you put on or in your pets, ultimately. Still, know that there are many websites making claims that are not true, about some of these drugs and veterinarians prescribing them.
Trifexis is an oral medication that prevents heartworm and kills flea (prevents and treats) infestations. It also treats and controls hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms, all of which are intestinal parasites. There have been reports, made by the company, of side effects, most commonly being mild, transient hypersensitivity resulting in labored breathing, vomiting, drooling and lethargy. It is recommended to be used with caution in epileptic dogs, and breeding females. More severe neurologic side effects have been reported as rare by the company, which includes death. Personally, I do not use it nor prescribe it.
Still, there are websites and Facebook pages dedicated to this drug, stating that thousands of dogs have died from it. There have been news stories around the country featuring this information. Many of these sites say that veterinarians are getting money to sell it. If that is true, it is news to me. One thing I do know is that, if thousands of dogs were dying from a medication, I suspect it would be FDA investigated and pulled off the shelf by it’s manufacturer. It is not.
Two last thoughts. These sites talk about this “poison” being prescribed by vets. Make no mistakes, these drugs are poison to the fleas and ticks that we are trying to kill to protect your pet and family from infestation. You are putting on or in your pet a small dose of a poison, intended to protect them and you from infection. Some drugs are safer than others, and more well established in usage. Talk to your vet, choose wisely, but do prevent these critters. They carry disease that can be life threatening.
On that note:
Wading through the sea of products that are out there can be confusing. There are so many options, that it can be overwhelming. Many times, your veterinarian may carry one product, and one down the street carries something else. I does not mean that the drugs they don’t carry are necessarily dangerous, but may simply be because they can only carry one or two options. Yet there are various good options out there. Find what works for you and your pets, and budget. Below is a list of the products out there, for Fleas only. This is a list of drugs that kill fleas. A comprehensive list of drugs that kill Heartworm/tick etc will be listed at another date. Note that they are listed in alphabetical order, not in order of personal preference.
DRUG SPECIES DOSAGE EFFECTS
Activyl tick plus dogs monthly, topical kills fleas, kills and repels ticks, repels mosquitoes
Activyl, cats cats monthly, topical same as above
Advantage dogs and cats monthly, topical kills fleas
can use weekly
Advantage multi dogs monthly topical kills fleas within 12 hours, prevents heart worms and intestinal w worms.kills ear mites, scabies mites, and may kill demodex mites
Capstar cats and dogs one tablet a day rapid flea kill
until no live fleas seen
Certifect dogs monthly topical kills fleas and their eggs, scabies mites and ticks
Comfortis dogs and cats monthly chewable kills fleas
Easy Spot cats monthly topical kills fleas and ticks
Frontline plus dogs and cats monthly topical kills fleas, kills and repels ticks
K9 Advantix dogs monthly topical kills fleas, kills and repels ticks, repels mosquitoes
Parastar dogs monthly topical kills fleas and ticks.
Parastar Plus dogs monthly topical kills fleas, ticks and chewing lice.
Program/Sentinel dogs and cats orally monthly dogs insect development inhibitor
cats injectable every 6 months
Revolution dogs and cats monthly topical kills fleas, prevents egg production, prevents heartworm,
treats ear mites, scabies, certain ticks and ingestinal worms
Excalibor flea and dogs collar kills fleas and ticks
Seresto collar dogs and cats 8 month collar kills fleas
Trifexis dogs oral monthly kills fleas, prevents heart worm, treats intestinal worms
Vectra 3D dogs monthly topical kills fleas, repels and kills ticks, repels and kills mosquitoes
Vectra for cats cats monthly topical kills fleas
Hope this information is helpful.
Dr. Dawn
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