Vectra

[Guest karma98104]

I exclusively use Advantix on my dogs. When Riley was a baby, he had a severe reaction to advantage- it may have just been because I concentrated too much in one spot, but I switched to Advantix when he was a bit older and have never had a problem. Riley seems to be a bit skin sensitive to things, so I've never played around with other types of flea control.

 

Yesterday I went to the vet to buy a new batch, and found they'd stopped carrying it. They started carrying Vectra instead, and assured me this stuff was better and that they've had really good results with it, I guess Seattle's having some sort of Flea epidemic right now so they felt the need to bring in the "big guns"

 

Anyway- I ignored my instincts and tried it. Within a few hours Riley's skin turned bright red between his shoulder blades. He seemed mildly uncomfortable but nothing major, I kept an eye on him and this morning the redness is gone. HOWEVER, all three of my dogs are scratching their faces, smooshing themselves against furniture and the carpet and rubbing their eyes. I don't SEE anything going on, and they aren't doing it all the time, just often enough that I know something is going on. I just did a GT search on Vectra and discovered it's quite controversial... and now I'm a little bit frightened.

 

I'm thinking of giving everyone a dose of Benadryl... I'd like the GT family to tell me if that's the right thing to do? If they seemed in pain or were having any other side effects, I would cart them to the E-Vet asap, but it just seems like a mild irritation. Should I be as worried as I am??

 

Thanks!

[JAJ2010]

poor pups! This was your vet that recommended it? As long as no one is having issues breathing I would think it wouldn't be an ER thing. Benedryl probably wouldn't hurt. I used Revolution during our flea genocide a few months ago and it gave Rainy a giant scab of chemical burn. I never noticed if it made her more itchy since she was already itchy.

 

Hope your guys feel better soon. Maybe bathing them with some dishsoap might help?

[macoduck]

Have you washed the Vectra off Riley ? Definitely do using Dawn dish detergent if you have any. Wash everyone's faces. Wash any bedding Riley was on. If you see no improvement, call your vet. Keep an eye on all of them for lethargy, vomiting, dehydration.

One of the old posts you read may have been the thread I started about her little fluffy dog getting horribly sick from the Vectra to the tune of thousands of dollars. The Petsmart vets handed her back a limp, nearly lifeless body and said there was nothing wrong with her. At one point the Vectra folks were going to repackage this under a new name. I may have even posts links to show how Vectra and the Petsmart vet clinics were in bed together as they stopped pushing the other presciption-only flea meds and only sold Vectra as the lastest greatest thing.

 

There has been slight controversy with Comfortis, the once a month pill for flea control. It's made by the folks who make Capstar.

I have used it on Gracie, Wally, and Pudge with no problems and still use it. Niña has some odd congenital liver problems so she will no longer get it. If yours don't have liver problems and you will get periodic blood work done, Comfortis is a possibility for you.

[Guest mcsheltie]

What Macoduck said... Wash the stuff off. If you don't have Dawn, use any kind of dish washing liquid. Since it has been on them 24 hours now, give them a complete bath.

 

I have read a lot of bad reviews on Vectra.

[Guest Swifthounds]

I googled and found this: http://www.drugs.com/vet/vectra-3d.html

 

It says it's not safe for cats or puppies - my usual warning signs to keep away from greyhounds. Also a lot of warnings about skin irritation. I would bathe the dogs to get off any that hasn't been absorbed.

 

I don't know why the vet would think something that takes up to 6 hours to kill fleas will be better (actually I do, but that's not a medical issue, it's a money one). I would call both the vet and the manufacturer of the product and let them know you have a reaction on multiple dogs.

[Guest karma98104]

I am such an idiot-- why didn't I think of washing the dogs already myself? I washed the L's faces because they don't seem as bothered, and I put Riley in the bathtub ( lucky boy, 2nd bath this week!). It's been about 26 hours since I dosed them so I'm guessing if anything worse was going to happen it would have already.

 

I will most CERTAINLY be letting my vet know about the reaction and will never again try something I don't research first. Ugh.

[seeh2o]

I'd stay away from Comfortis, too. My friend's Rhodesian Ridgeback (who have GH blood in them way back) was given Comfortis and a couple of hours later she was vomiting black liquid, was weak, wobbly, all in all a very very sick dog. She pulled through an she's lucky to be alive.

 

Good luck with your pack!

[Guest Energy11]

NO VECTRA, NO COMFORTIS, not on Greyhounds! As the others have said, was the crap off, and I'd give (2) 50 mg Benedryl every four to six hours, and if symptoms haven't improved, I'd see the vet.

 

A LOT of vets will do whatever the fast-talking drug reps say. You had no way of knowing, and trusted you vet. Always question a new product, especially with greyhounds. ADVANTIX is another I have been warned to stay away from.

 

Sorry this had to happen! Hope your puppers are okay. Again, you had NO way of knowing.

 

 

[Jack6]

Anyone else have a senior canine or one with urinary dilution issues that could not tolerate oral flea med resulting in adverse reactions or died? If so which flea meds? 

[racindog]

 I learned years ago (through terrible sad tragedy) to never trust a veterinarian. Their focus is usually $$ and some of them are just plain dangerous to greyhounds and don't keep abreast and/or are even aware of some rather basic care & meds. In fact some even act like they don't really care.   I never trust them (if I can do otherwise) and research meds etc first myself. Even then it scares me sometimes to have to trust my precious doggos to them for anything.