This somewhat expensive medication is supposed to protect your dog against heart worms and fleas.

In the last 25 years, I’ve used Ivermectin to prevent heart worms and Advantage for flea control. Both seemed to work OK, but I’m open to using something better.
In your experience is Trifexis significantly better?

BTW, that little grub we picked up back in February is now a 45 lb. chocolate buzz saw. Thank goodness for New Skin liquid bandage.

It is pricey but often you can get coupons on the Trifexis site.

It's strong stuff and I developed a routine to keep the dog from vomiting after administration.

Make sure they've had good exercise during the day, about an hour or two after their evening meal give the medicine and keep the dogs still for a while.

The only way I can get the pill down without a wrestling match is to break it up into four pieces, then put each piece in the middle of some peanut butter and swipe that on the roof of the dog's mouth.

Have you tried these:

https://www.greenies.com/products/dog/pill-pockets

They work well for giving pills to my extremely suspicious Ridgeback.

Made 5 of our 7 sick, vomiting and diarrhea for 2 days. Got off it immediately, it has killed some dogs, and caused physical problems in others. Research it, we went back to heart guard, no problems.

I used it in the past, problem I had with it is that it doesn't protect against ticks. Went to heartguard and nexguard. I give them 2 weeks apart.

I'd stick to what you were using if it's been effective.
All meds can have side effects so why go with an unknown?

Be wary of any of the flea and tick meds that are given orally in the form of a soft chew or similar. I’m not saying this WILL happen but if it does it’s not good for your dog at all. There’s mounting cases of these meds causing seizures in dogs that have had absolutely zero history of seizures in the past, and killing them. Some dogs have been taking these meds for quite a while and then just start having seizures out of nowhere and end up dying within days of the seizures starting.

I loved the convenience of using the chewables instead of the topical meds on their backs but once I discovered these cases happening I switched back to the topicals.

Keep in mind that I’m only talking about the flea and tick treatments...not heartworm. Heartworm meds are all given orally.

quote:

Originally posted by Sportshooter:
This somewhat expensive medication is supposed to protect your dog against heart worms and fleas.

In the last 25 years, I’ve used Ivermectin to prevent heart worms and Advantage for flea control. Both seemed to work OK, but I’m open to using something better.
In your experience is Trifexis significantly better?

I used to use Heart Guard and Adantage for mine. Switched to Trifexis for convenience. Plus, I never trust the topical flea application completely. It's messy, and you're never sure that 100% of the med are actually absorbed. Been with Trifexis 3 years. Dog has exhibited zero side effects.

My dog never had issues but my vet quit carrying it because of the physical and neurological problems he saw increasing.

quote:

Originally posted by triggertreat:
My dog never had issues but my vet quit carrying it because of the physical and neurological problems he saw increasing.

My vet claimed the same thing, but after doing some online research it appears more likely that the company producing Trifexis wasn't providing vet's with enough margin and kickbacks on product sales to make it attractive to them to place on their shelves. I've had my hounds on this stuff forever, and they've had no issues with it. As a precaution I've always given it to them after a meal, but I generally do that with all their medicines.

We have 2 dogs - a 40lbs and 85 lbs. They have been on this for 2 years now. No problems to date. Zero fleas or ticks.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by triggertreat:
My dog never had issues but my vet quit carrying it because of the physical and neurological problems he saw increasing.

My vet claimed the same thing, but after doing some online research it appears more likely that the company producing Trifexis wasn't providing vet's with enough margin and kickbacks on product sales to make it attractive to them to place on their shelves. I've had my hounds on this stuff forever, and they've had no issues with it. As a precaution I've always given it to them after a meal, but I generally do that with all their medicines.

If you knew my 75 year old country vet I will guarantee it wasnt the money.

I give my 35lbs puppy Trifexis. At first, I could hand feed it to her like it was a treat. Well, she caught on because now it requires a Pill Pocket or a nice dab of peanut butter or else I have to pill her.

She’s been on it for a year and never had any problems from it. As recommended, I give it to her on a full stomach.

quote:

Originally posted by triggertreat:
If you knew my 75 year old country vet I will guarantee it wasnt the money.

Might not be with your vet, but it's all about the money some way somehow. My vet group used to carry Trifexis. Then, they sold their group to a big national chain. They then dumped Trifexis and started carrying ComboGuard, which is identical to Trifexis, except for the name. I'm sure the new owner changed how other things are done, because one by one, the old vets eventually quit and went elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Gear.Up:
The only way I can get the pill down without a wrestling match is to break it up into four pieces, then put each piece in the middle of some peanut butter and swipe that on the roof of the dog's mouth.

My wife cuts up Vienna sausages into roughly 3/4" lengths, small slice in one end or the middle, pill goes in slice, hidden, and the whole thing disappears in an instant.

quote:

Originally posted by triggertreat:
If you knew my 75 year old country vet I will guarantee it wasnt the money.

I was more commenting on my vet, not yours. I dig my vet but he's very profit driven (hence the reason I get my heartworm and flea stuff elsewhere).

We used to use Advantage Flea and Tick but they became (or the fleas) became immune to it and they loaded up with fleas and then, of course, got worms. Contacted the vet, got de-working meds and it was then they suggested “Bravecto”. We’ve been using it for for a couple of years without any flea problems or side-effects.

0ur 13yr old long legged rat terrier/beagle mix been on Trifexis for about 7 years. started out you could trick her by hidding pill in some type of treat and now it is like she knows when pill date arrives . Now it is like a WWF tag team wrestling match. I even have problems with its smell. ...........................drill sgt.

I've used Trifexis for about 10yrs now. Before that, I used a topical, Revolution.

It isn't the cheapest way to go but is highly effective. No fleas or worms. Doesn't do anything for ticks though. That's okay, ticks aren't a problem around here in town. Vet advised if ticks were a minor issue, to get a tick collar. Haven't had to do that.

Thing is though, the Ivermectin you've been using is good for heartworm and as you probably know, you can get 1% Ivermectin solution from Tractor Supply for about $35 and it only takes a couple of drops a month served on a slice of bread for example, to provide heartworm protection. Here is a link for Ivermectin dosage ... http://dogaware.com/health/ivomec.html ... Of course if you go the Ivermectin route for heartworm you still have to use other medication for other parasites, such as the Advantage you have used and whatever other parasites are of concern. So Trifexis may be worth the "one stop" convenience. It is to me.

How I save money on Trifexis:

- Elanco makes Trifexis. Overseas, the exact same product from Elanco is sold as "Comfortis Plus". I don't buy Trifexis from the vet and most websites require a vet prescription for Trifexis. So, I buy Comfortis Plus from overseas ... Australia or England. Takes 15 days for shipment to arrive from overseas and I've been doing this for just about 10yrs. The savings are quite significant over buying from any local vet. I won't reveal who I purchase from online but you'll find it if you google around. They also sell all the other parasite products you'd get from a vet and don't require a prescription. I've done it for a decade with no problems. Usually when I have one tablet of a six month supply left, I go ahead and order another six month supply in case there are any unexpected delays in delivery or something.

- I have two medium size dogs that weigh roughly the same. Their combined weight is about 115lbs. So I buy a six month supply of the Brown box Comfortis Plus (Trifexis) that is good for a dog up to 120lbs. I've done the math and each month I take one tablet and break it up with a small mortar and pestle and divide the tablet out in the weight appropriate amount for each dog, using a small portable milligram scale. Neither dog gets a quantity of much more than they actually need for their weight. Generally in my case, I just divide the tablet in half. It's cheaper that way than ordering one box of tablets for each dog and giving each dog an entire tablet that would have more medicine than they need. I'm sure it's less stress on their system that way. Each brown box tablet weighs 3 grams, so each of my dogs gets a 1.5 gram dosage which is good for a dog up to 60 pounds for a month of protection and I'm sure Elanco has factored in some wiggle room to ensure that is in fact enough for their weight for a month. This has been my system for a long time and never any fleas, worms or positive heartworm test.

I give the meds with a kibble meal, "hiding" the meds in their kibble with a small amount of leftover human food or divide one of those tiny cans of dog food between the two, but I do have to hide the meds or my finicky suspicious eater will eat around the meds and leave it and my other dog may or may not eat the chewable meds. When hidden, no problem. I have noticed that the afternoon and evening when I give the meds, the dogs are slightly less active. It does that to them on their system I guess, and another reason I don't want to give them more than they need by weight.



... Pic from the other day. Sugar will be 14 this fall and Mason 9 ...

Trifexis made our dogs puke, consistently. We switched to Nexguard and no problems. Once a month Heartguasrd and Nexguard keeps them safe and healthy