IT'S THE VECTRA!! - UPDATE #2

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

So some of you remember last month when Bandit was afflicted with a temporary paralysis after I had given him his monthly dose of HeartGuard and Vectra 3D...The vet said muscle spasm.. and sent us home with some painkillers which I never gave him... He was better after about 24 hours, or 48 after the given dose...And has been fine all month

 

Last week I gave him his HeartGuard with no issue.  Today we were going hiking in the woods and I felt compelled to give Bandit some topical because he hadn't had any in 5 weeks, so I gave him his last dose of Vectra, that was around noon.. And sure enough about 8 pm he is acting like he can't walk.. WTD??  Should I give him a bath or is it too late???  I knew it was the Vectra... I feel terrible for giving it to him again..  And I am peeved at the Vet for pretty much disregarding that his symptoms could have anything to do with these meds...I will be calling them tomorrow to tell them he is doing the exact same thing in about the same time frame as last month....

 

I am definitely calling the vet in the morning.. but should I bathe him??

 

So Bandit is definitately not is usual doodley self... I couldn't get him up this morning.  I had to carry him outside but he did manage a nice long pee and poop.  But then he just ran back to me and sat on my lap while Rosey did laps around the yard.  I think it is affecting him somewhere in his lower spine as he keeps turning his head and biting that area.  And he seems to like to be scratched there. 

 

I am at work, but he was more than happy to be settling on his couch in their room with his marrow bone for the day.  Hopefully by the time I get home he will be doing better.

 

Update #2:  He seems to be doing better!!  I got home and he was shakin' his tail and wiggling his butt!!  We went on a nice long walk and he did fine.  This is pretty much the same timing (48 hours) after Vectra dose last month that he is doing better.  So now I need to report to the EPA and still call the vet, I didn't get to that today but should have time in the morning.

 

Well I guess the strangest thing he did was hide under Rosey's bed for about 10 minutes...

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry for Bandit that he's having this issue, but happy that you at least know now what's causing it and can avoid it in the future.

I don't know if washing him will do much good. It seems that the chemicals are already in his bloodstream, or he wouldn't be having the reaction. It might not hurt to get off as much of it as possible, though.

Now you can look at the ingredients in Vectra and hopefully find a topical that doesn't contain the same ones.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Thanks Karen...I am just so mad that these vets seem as clueless about critter preventatives as they are about food!!  I guess I have good mother's intuition so we will have to run with that!!

 

 

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

The Vectra 3D insert says if there is a reaction to wash off with mild soap and lots of water.  When Apollo had a reaction to this my vet said to give him a bath using Dawn dish soap.  I was told the product is distributed through the hair, unlike Frontline which is distributed through the oil on the skin.  When using Vectra it is recommended to use soap free shampoo, to avoid removing the product, but even soap free shampoo will remove some of it.  It did help Apollo bathing him with Dawn dish soap. 

I have read were its rare but this product can cause neurologic signs.  I hope Bandit will be okay.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Thank you for reading the insert Tina!! I don't even think I have any documentation.. GASP I have NO Dawn..I guess just dog shampoo will have to do...Thanks again!!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Do you have any clarifying shampoo?  Make sure to use a soap based shampoo.  I know it says it distributes through the hair, which would involve skin oil IMO.  So I can see using soap would wash the oil off.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

We have Pantene 2-1, Dumb Blonde by Tige, Pantene Volumizing and Cowboy Magic dog shampoo..oh and I think some Tropiclean Flea & Tick...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm betting the ingredient that's causing Bandit's problem is the dinotefuran. That's the one that causes neurological side effects, and it's not in many other spot-ons. I know it's not in Frontline.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

OMD...now I am getting really scared...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hey, Suzann, he got through it last time and he'll get through it this time. he'll be okay. And now he'll never have to go through this again.

Don't use flea and tick shampoo. Do you have any dishwashing liquid? Baby shampoo? Plain liquid soap?

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Yes we have dishwashing liquid.. not sure what brand at the moment what about some Dial hand soap... I think we will go with that...

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Don't panic, like Karen said he got through it last time and he will be okay.  Just use the dish soap it will wash the oil off.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, That makes me angry too that the vet dismissed your concerns. It ticks me off, I am glad you are going to wash that off of him,

 

I would for sure never ever use that product again and see about something that is totally different... Poor boy,

Sending love