Guest grey_dreams Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 We are moving to St. Louis, MO next week (from Amsterdam). Here, we don't have heartworm, and ticks and fleas are not a problem. I would greatly appreciate advice on new treatment regimes that I will have to implement once we move to the midwest. What is the best medication and application schedule to prevent heartworm for my two galgos? What are the best tick and flea medications to repel ticks and fleas for sighthounds and for my cat, and how often should they be applied? Any other advice that you can give about new things that I will have to do once we move (should we regularly screen for lyme disease?) is greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 There are several good products on the market. Heartguard does a great job preventing heart worms and there is Frontline Plus or Comfortis are both good for flea and tick prevention. Heartguard is given once a month and Frontline Plus and Comfortis usually every 90 days. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 My vet is really pushing Trifexis -- so much that I wonder if he's getting a kickback. We use Ivermectin from AU and Advantage as needed. We don't have ticks in the old part of Dallas and Advantage works better on just fleas that Frontline. However, if you go about 15 miles north ticks are everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 We use Frontline Plus (topical) every month for fleas and ticks, and Interceptor (oral) every month for heartworm. I'm a couple hundred miles north of you so a little colder. I use the heartworm meds every month, year round, without fail. For the Frontline, I might skip a month or two in the winter but if there are significant warm spells or I have houseguests who might bring bugs, I'll keep using it every month. Many friends and folks here like Comfortis (oral) for fleas, but it doesn't kill ticks and we have lots of those in my area . I understand that Interceptor may be hard to get now. When I need more heartworm medication, I'll probably get Heartgard instead. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwnedBySummer Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Summer gets Heartguard for 6 months a year (June-November) and I apply K9 Advantix Plus from April-November. Note that you CANNOT use Advantix on a kitty. If your cat doesn't snuggle with or groom the dogs, I'm told it's okay to then use it on just the dogs. Quote Lisa B. My beautiful Summer - to her forever home May 1, 2010 Summer Certified therapy dog team with St. John Ambulance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 When you get to your new place, ask your neighbors what's being effective against fleas/ticks for their pets. Currently, Interceptor (and Sentinal, I think) are out of production due to manufacturing issues. Interceptor and Sentinal prevent more parasites than Heartgard Plus does, but I've had to go to Heartgard Plus for the heartworm preventative and just take my chances with the other parasites (like hookworms--we think Sam's got those now, so we're deworming). A comparison of heartworm meds is available here; flea and tick comparison chart is here. In St Louis, you're probably going to need to give heartworm preventative year-round. It's a prescription med, so you'll need to see your vet to get a heartworm test for the dogs so you can get a prescription. Trifexis for heartworms fights more of the "extra" parasites--it's more like Interceptor and Sentinal than like Heartgard. It also has built-in flea prevention, but I don't know how effective that's been. It doesn't prevent ticks, but ticks may not be a problem in your area (again, ask your neighbors). Some people successfully use a Preventic collar to supplement Trifexis. If you use a flea preventative like Frontline Plus (and there's a difference between Frontline and Frontline Plus), you'll need to use it monthly. Since your dogs haven't had these meds before, I'd try to stagger the meds to start with, so that if one of the meds doesn't agree with one of the dogs, you'll have some idea what the problem is. Make sure your new vet knows that you and the dogs are new to these meds. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feisty49 Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 I use Interceptor for heartworm prevention. It also works against round worms, hook worms and whip worms. My vet has had problems getting it but got a supply in just last week and I won't need more until mid-September. Annie Bella gets it monthly on the 15th. For fleas and ticks I use K9 Advantix II 9 to 10 months a year. I apply it once a month on the 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Snazzy_Chloe Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Sentinel for heartworm on the 1st (it kills flea eggs also) pf every month, and the Frontline Plus on the 15th for fleas and ticks between April and Oct (till it freezes and kills the bugs). I stagger the treatment as I think doing it all at one time upsets their digestive system a bit. It's all preventative, you will have to get a prescription from your vet and they will want to test for heartworm (an annual thing) which I think is expensive and ridiculous if you keep them on the meds year round - but I guess they need to protect themselves because if they have heartworm already and you give them meds I believe it can kill or severely injure the anaimal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 (edited) I use Revolution. Heart worm is a problem in Southern Spain. I don't know where your galgos are from, but it might be worth having them tested. Edited May 21, 2012 by robinw Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 We use Frontline Plus (topical) every month for fleas and ticks, and Interceptor (oral) every month for heartworm. I'm a couple hundred miles north of you so a little colder. I use the heartworm meds every month, year round, without fail. For the Frontline, I might skip a month or two in the winter but if there are significant warm spells or I have houseguests who might bring bugs, I'll keep using it every month. Many friends and folks here like Comfortis (oral) for fleas, but it doesn't kill ticks and we have lots of those in my area . I understand that Interceptor may be hard to get now. When I need more heartworm medication, I'll probably get Heartgard instead. DITTO, just be aware that you need a prescription for any heartworm meds. have fun shopping for frontline plus, that's another conversation. many people buy it from australia, it's cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inugrey Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 My vet is really pushing Trifexis -- so much that I wonder if he's getting a kickback. I'm not one to chime in much but I'm also pretty into Trifexis. It takes care of all the uglies such as heart and whipworm and fleas! We had no winter and are having a terrible tick season. I've moved to the preventic collar and trifexis to protect my hounds. The collar actually repels the ticks before they bite and there is none of that frontline ick on their back. This new combination is not only easier on me it's also cheaper. It's a win win. Quote Colleen with Covey (Admirals Cove) and Rally (greyhound puppy)Missing my beloved boy INU (CJ Whistlindixie) my sweetest princess SALEM (CJ Little Dixie) and my baby girl ZOE (LR's Tara) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 DITTO, just be aware that you need a prescription for any heartworm meds. Not if you buy the from AU or at the feed store as many do with good results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Unlike many (from what I hear), my vet has decent prices on heartworm meds so I generally buy there. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PiagetsMom Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 My vet is really pushing Trifexis -- so much that I wonder if he's getting a kickback. I'm not one to chime in much but I'm also pretty into Trifexis. It takes care of all the uglies such as heart and whipworm and fleas! We had no winter and are having a terrible tick season. I've moved to the preventic collar and trifexis to protect my hounds. The collar actually repels the ticks before they bite and there is none of that frontline ick on their back. This new combination is not only easier on me it's also cheaper. It's a win win. I tried the Trifexis for the first time yesterday on my pups, and I was just thrilled that I was able to put it in some liverworst and give it to them as a treat before their meal......never would have happened with the Comfortis, which they really didn't like the taste of. I'm hoping they do well with it because as you say, it's a win win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest grey_dreams Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Thanks everyone for all your advice. Seems like there are a few choices, so I will be considering the different options. I'm glad that these options are all fine for greyhounds. I'll also have to be careful about what I use for the dogs, considering that my cat lives very closely with the dogs. I use Revolution. Heart worm is a problem in Southern Spain. I don't know where your galgos are from, but it might be worth having them tested. Thank you Robin. They are both from Scooby. I suppose they were picked up somewhere in the region north of Madrid. Still, I was planning to have them tested first, just to be absolutely certain. Thanks for the reminder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirsmom Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Interceptor and Canine AdvantixII. I'm going to call today to see if I can get more Interceptor since it's scarce other wise I've read Trifexis is comparable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KimK Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I'm getting ready to see how Trifexis does for my three. I currently use Interceptor and Frontline Plus every month but with Interceptor being hard to come by right now, I started looking for alternatives. From what my vet described, Trifexis is a combination of Interceptor and Comfortis. I haven't noticed any ticks but then again, I'm not in a woodsy area so may have to look at the collar or going back to something else if they show up. One thing they did mention over and over at the clinic - for Trifexis to be the most effective, it has to be given with a full meal. Something about it binding with the fat in the food to go on and be absorbed & work properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Something about it binding with the fat in the food to go on and be absorbed & work properly. That makes sense. One of my sisters drugs has to be taken with 20 grams of fat to work correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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