This shouldn't be so hard. Exploring worm preventives, etc.

[Adina P]

Because we don't have heartworm in my area, I've only used heartworm preventives on one dog, one time when I traveled into another state.  Well, a little while ago Boca had a fecal and whipworm larvae were found.  Eewwww.  Luckily it is not a zoonotic parasite.  Phew!  But my vet has recently started recommending putting all dogs on a worm preventive just to control non-heartworm parasites.  My dogs don't really go anywhere, but I guess since they got whipworm, what's to stop them from picking up something else in an otherwise benign area?

Heartgard does not cover whipworms so that is out.
So what am I left with?  Sentinel and Trifexis?  Are those the only alternatives?  I've read some bad experiences with Trifexis on here.  I'm leaning toward Sentinel but I have heard the anti-flea aspect isn't as good as Frontline Plus.  Then there's ticks.  Is there anything that covers ALL intestinal worms and is awesome with fleas and ticks AND is quite unremarkable when it comes to side effects?  I really don't want to have to remember to buy a handful of drugs.  And I'm also curious and interested in the oral med that is new from Frontline Plus makers (I think?) so I don't have to use a spot-on.

Talk to me dog people!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It doesn't hurt, just a phone call.

A few years back, my son was using a different vet from mine, and this vet would not give his clients an Rx so that they could purchase their HW preventatives elsewhere. But if you had a catalog from one of the on-line sources, he would match their prices. My son would bring in a Foster & Smith catalog and get their price! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Absolutely.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I buy them from vet, too.  

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'm using Sentinel Spectrum and Frontline Plus and so far so good.  Frontline has the added protection to kill ticks and fleas.  I stop using the Frontline in the winter.  Finn had a seizure after taking Heartguard so I decided to stay with Novartis and use the Sentinel as he had no problems with their Interceptor.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

We're doing the same thing here, had been using Interceptor and now use Sentinel. We also use Frontline Plus, no problems to report with either.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Alana, we have discussed the NexGuard in my post and so far no one seems to be having any problems with it.http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/is-anyone-using-nexgard-or...

I have the same concerns as you do regarding young children being exposed to the chemicals once I apply the frontline to thier shoulders. Plus the inconvenience of waiting for it to dry before going swimming. Maybe this post will help you decide on the NexGuard. 

[Stella]

I use Revolution which has to go on the back of the neck/ between the shoulders. To avoid having to worry about drying times before activity etc I put it on just before we go to bed at night. That way it dries while they sleep and none of us have to worry about getting it on our hands!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

That is a great idea Stella, and would require some planning on my part! LOL  My Murphy has a habit of rolling around on the carpet after I put it on like he's trying to get it off him, and it has made me wonder if he really feels anything, but I think he's just a drama-king. So I wouldn't be able to put on at night, as he'd be rolling all over our bed. Yuck! 

[Adina P]

I make both of mine down-stay for a few minutes after.  It seems to take that 'must roll' excitement out of them.  It also keeps them from shaking.  I am sure they feel something because anything that's not warm probably feels cold on their skin.

[F, Calla & Luca]

My concerns have nothing to do with the absence of short term side effects but the possibility of long term side effects since it is so new. I do hate the Frontline but at least it has been used for a long time.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'm going to go with the idea that Merial has been making flea and tick medications for a very long time and would like to believe that a company with such longevity and reputation would have done their due diligence and not put our dogs or themselves at risk. Yes, there is always the "unknown" long term risk they didn't expect, but I just don't feel that using this company is that big a risk. If it were a start-up company introducing a NEW medication, i'd have more issue with it I guess. 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

What I don't like about these topicals, even though I use them, is it seems to make the coat sticky and it likes to matt in that area.
I try to very careful and get it on the skin, but when I part his hair, the line of skin is so very thin that I can't keep it out of the fur. Hope for better alternative. Wish I didn't feel uneasy about Trifexis.