Thoughts on monthly heartworm preventative? & Food mishap!

[Nala and Cooper]

We made a visit to the vet today and Nala checked out well, but this time he recommended a heartworm preventative called the Interceptor. They're flavor tabs for pups 11-25lb (1 tablet for $51!!). Seemed pricey but for the sake of Nalas health I took him up on it. I've never heard of these, though I have heard of deworming vaccines, which she got a week ago. I went home to look it up and I'm seeing a lot of articles claiming that they aren't necessary at all. So I just want to know how necessary it really is. Does your dog take monthly heartworm preventatives?

Also, I asked my boyfriend to pick up some more dry food at Petco after work because we were running low, and he brought home the wrong one. Nala has been on Blue Buffalo large breed puppy food for 4 weeks and its too soon for any transition. Her stools are nice and firm, she likes it, and the vet says her body shape/weight is stellar, so I decided to get the same one. What he brought home was the Blue Buffalo puppy food (not large breed, but still the same chicken and brown rice flavor). I know I'm being a worrywart about this and I feel a transition might not really be necessary, but if it is, I just do not have enough large breed kibble to make that transition over a 2 week course. I could always return it, but I just want to make sure if I can just keep it.

*Update*

I looked up the Interceptor. I can't seem to find the one I have online, anywhere. What I got was the puppy pack, and the official Interceptor website tells me that the puppy pack is supposed to be complimentary from your veterinarian. There are 4 types apparently, which are sorted by weight groups, and none of them are what I have. I refuse to believe I paid $51 for something that wasn't meant to be sold in the first place. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Yes to the monthly heartworm meds but that does seem to be a bit too pricey. Just check with other vets to see what the going rate is. There are other options, we are in Canada and use Sentinel which for a 70 lb dog is around $25. As for the food, your doodle doesn't need large breed food and the puppy formula will be just fine. :>) Large breed, think Great Dane or Saint Bernard. Since the formula is pretty much the same no transition should be necessary.

[Nala and Cooper]

Yes I came to realize that I didn't need the large breed food, but wasn't sure. I guess its not so bad he bought this one! And I was thinking about keeping Nala on the heartworm preventative, except I'd purchase it from a store or somewhere where it'd be cheaper. I do like the Interceptor brand, though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Donna on all counts. If you have mosquitoes in your area, you absolutely need HW preventatives. Heartworm infestations are life threatening, and unfortunately, all too common. DRC has had several HW positive dogs in the program; the treatment is excruciatingly painful (arsenic injections deep in the spine) and costs about $1500. Whatever you saw on the internet about HW prevents not being necessary was absolute garbage, and definitely not factual.

I use Heartgard plus chewables, been using it for many, many years. I honestly couldn't tell you what it costs.

Donna's right about the food too. You don't need "large breed" and the formulas are so similar you don't need to transition. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

I had a good teacher.

[Nala and Cooper]

Ouch. After my last dog's hernia I can't bear to see any more of my pets go through a life threatening situation. Thank you guys so much :-)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Heart worm Ned's are simply vital!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

You are talking about two different types of worming. The deworming she got last week is for internal parasites ( roundworm,tapeworm etc). Do a Google for Heartworm: you won't be sorry in keeping her on monthly preventative. It is definitely a necessity.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics

[Amy and Annabelle]

I use the chewable Sentinel Spectrum that also prevents heartworm, in addition to all the other worms and fleas. It is $12 for 1 tab at my vet. I do the combo with Annabelle and currently  use Frontline Plus with it, but she will soon be starting chewable Nexgard instead. So it will cost me $35 month to keep her protected. I figure that is a small price to pay to keep her healthy. Also she gets a yearly heartworm test that is $20. My puppy pack for the Revolution she was on initially was free. It came with information and coupons in addition to the med and the little metal box to keep it in. I would certainly ask your vet about that.

[Nala and Cooper]

I think Sentinel and Interceptor are both made by Novartis. Mine said "Puppy Pack" on the front and I think my vet sold me a complimentary item, I'm calling today to ask. I don't mind paying the price I paid monthly but knowing that it is not supposed to be that expensive disturbs me

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Amy, may I ask why you're switching from Frontline Plus to Nexgard chewable for flea and tick? I plan to ask my vet this at Rippley's next check, but was wondering about the efficacy of Frontline Plus vs. others. And on the other hand, I remember reading somewhere that HW should be oral but flea and tick should be topical (vs. both oral) - ? Any info from the experts on this? TIA!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

To my knowledge, there is no topical HW preventative. 

I prefer the topical for flea & tick because JD already gets too many oral meds and supplements, lol. And the topicals just seem less invasive to me, but that might just be me.