Any recommendations for heartworm medication?

TeenyTeeny
edited July 2011 in Akita (秋田犬)
I've been doing a lot of research on which heartworm medicine to give my 1 year old AA, Kona, and after reading all of the horror stories about side effects (and deaths - Eek!!), I'm more confused than ever. From what I've read so far, it seems that Heartgard and anything with ivermectin is not recommended. Has anyone tried interceptor or any other brands?

We currently use Advantage II as a flea med and we live in Southern California, where lately the weather has felt a bit more humid so I'm worried about an increase in mosquitos. We are considering switching to Advantix though since it kills and repels more than Advanrage.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Comments

  • sunyatasunyata
    I use interceptor for both of my girls, and no side affects have been noticed. They have both been on it since they were puppies.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    Advantage is marketing a new product called Advantage Multi for fleas, intestinal and heart worm (imidacloprid + moxidectin). It's worth a shot.
  • sukoshi_momsukoshi_mom
    edited July 2011
    Interceptor is pretty good.

    You will still need to watch your dog for tapeworm. Dogs can ingest the fleas and develop tapeworm infestations. Interceptor does not take care of tapeworms.

  • SayaSaya
    I give heartguard Saya does fine one it, but i dunno some dogs might not.

    I give her advantix it seems to help with the ticks and flies.

    She still gets flies buzzing near her, but not as many if she didn't have it on.
  • dlrobertsdlroberts
    I've always just asked my vet for a recommendation. I'm pretty sure each of the products on the market is slightly different in terms of protection, so you want to make sure you're covered the things your dog is likely to run into locally. That being said, when I lived in GA most people I knew and all vets I interacted with recommended Heartguard plus. Once moving to NC, the recommendation became Interceptor.
  • TeamLaikaTeamLaika
    Why is ivermectin specifically not recommended?

    the past, the Southern California area has been relatively free of heartworm disease, but recent cases have been diagnosed in dogs that have not traveled out of the Los Angeles area. Confirmed cases of heartworm disease have been reported in Chatsworth, Canoga Park, Woodland Hills and many other areas in L.A. and surrounding counties. You should also consider your travel plans. Will your AA ever join you on trips out of state?

    You should pick a heartworm preventative with your veterinarian's guidance and give it. Even dogs with MDR-1 gene mutations can be safely given macrocyclic lactones at doses for heartworm prevention. It's cheap and easy to administer.

    Heartgard plus (ivermectin - the 'plus' is pyrantel) and Interceptor (milbemycin oxime) are from the same broad class of antiparasitics. Both will prevent heartworms. The difference is in the spectrum of intestinal parasite coverage. Heartgard will prevent roundworm and hookworm infestations. Interceptor will take care of hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.

    There have been reports of lack of effectiveness with Heartgard plus, particularly in the southern US. This is not unlikely considering the status of antiparasitic resistance in other species (sheep and goat parasites in particular).
    http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=18763

    Advantix is a good idea if you're also battling ticks and flies but it is only for external parasites.
  • tjbart17tjbart17
    I'm with Dave, check with your vet. I use Interceptor because it is one of the only preventatives for something we have in the Bay Area. Two years ago I could've told you what, but I can't remember. I may have posted it on here before.

    Advantix is a great idea. I use it, but we also have a lot of ticks up here in No. California.
  • TeenyTeeny
    Thank you all for your input and advice. A few websites I came across said that Akitas can be very sensitive to certain drugs, one of which is Ivermectin. Just to be on the safe side, I think I'm going to try Interceptor. When I first took Kona in for the heartworm test, my vet said that he hadn't seen very many cases of heartworm in our area and that he didn't think my pup needed heartworm meds. As TeamLaika mentioned, I too have heard of confirmed heartworm cases in LA and Orange County, so I disagree with my vet. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

    @tjbart17 - I've read that Interceptor and flea meds shouldn't be applied within 2 weeks of each other. Do you notice any side effects when you administer the meds to your dog?
  • tjbart17tjbart17
    I give them on the same day. Maybe I need to ask the vet when I see him tomorrow. :- { I've never seen a problem though.
  • shibamistressshibamistress
    I don't give heartworm meds, simply because I live in a very arid area and have not seen any mosquitos in years. But if I did, I would also avoid Ivermectin for exactly the reasons you mention. While the problems with it have mostly been associated with collies, I also read that Akitas can be sensitive to it, so like you, I figure it's better to avoid it just in case. Just like I'm really super careful about vaccinations too.
  • sjp051993sjp051993
    I have always given heartworm and flea meds on the same day and have never had any problems. My dogs are on interceptor and then get frontline when the ticks are real bad. the rest of the year they get advantage for the fleas. My dogs also stay on heartworm prevention year round. I know alot of people stop in the winter, but i have seen dogs get heartworm even in the winter. amazing how hardy the mosquitoes can be.
  • slkblazeslkblaze
    I give Trifexis (kind of an all-in-one chewable tablet) but I've been reading about the side-effects and I'm having WebMD syndrome xD. I think I'm mainly concerned about the "increased appetite" because both pups are always RAVENOUS for food when I'm giving them "package recommended" portions which are, in my opinion, always more than they need.

    It also give a warning about breeding females... something I may want to do in the future with my JA if her health and conformation checks out (shiba is le spayed). I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with Trifexis or has any knowledge to share on it. :)
  • _Ryan__Ryan_
    We used sentinel spectrum tasty chews without issue. Now use panaramis as it also kills adult fleas.
    Both are all in one chewables.
  • ceziegcezieg
    @slkblaze I use Trifexis with Ren, it's Comfortis + a heartworm compound. I also used it on Tsune, never have had any complications with either dog. I like it more than the topicals for a few reasons, it doesn't leave greasy clothes/furniture staining residue, can't be washed off or licked off (causes mouth foaming and other issues for the licker), and in sensitive dogs it doesn't cause skin rashes or burns.

    As for the increased hunger... you have an Akita puppy, it's always going to be ravenous LOL. She needs a lot of food she can get to grow up big and strong anyhow. From your videos it also sounds like you have an energetic Shiba which burns a lot of energy anyways. My Shiba was like that and was ALWAYS ready for meal time to recharge and play/run more. Unless they start putting on weight that's nothing to worry about, even then it's just a matter of cutting back portions while keeping them playing :)
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