images-1You 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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