Trifexis

[Phyllis & Duffy]

Anyone have their doodle on this drug? Any reactions?  Sentinel has been discontinued and replaced with this. I've heard of reactions from others and wanted to ask in this site.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Bailey has been on it for about 6 months now with only one reaction... The month before last I gave her the next highest weigh dose (she was at eh weight boderline for next level of doage).  She was lithargic for about 24 hours.  This is a common side effect.  I didn't like the way she appeared so I bumped her down to the dose for 40-60lbs and she did fine.  Never had any nausea or vomiting issues with any dose she has recv' d

Infact she got her scheduled dose today and is fine with it.  The key is to make sure your pup has a full tummy when giving it...

If you do a search on Trifexis here on DK Discussions you will find a good conversation on different types of meds and the pros and cons.  I think it was last month

This one has several links attached...

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/heart-worm-medication?comm...

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

I have no experience with Trifexis, but I have been following the Novartis (maker of Sentinel) story since last December. Sentinel has been unavailable in the US for several months because the production plant in Nebraska was closed in December. The plant apparently reopened sometime in late June or July.

However, from what I have been able to glean from the Lincoln, NE, newspaper and the Novartis web site, Sentinel has not been discontinued. It is reported to be in pre-production testing at the Lincoln plant, with full production expected to resume by fall.

Elizabeth is correct about the previous conversations we have had here about Trifexis and other heartworm meds. There are many!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My guys had a bad reaction to Trifexis.  I only gave them the one dose and brought the rest back to the Vet and traded for Heartgard.

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

Both of my boys have been on Trifexis ever since they were old enough (one is 1-1/2 and the other is 1) without any problems. I give it in the morning after they have eaten and when I know they will be quiet for the next hour. That isn't a requirement, it's just what I do. They sleep after they eat so it works fine. Some people have had problems but none for us so far.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Trifexis caused one of my dogs to have a SEVERE reaction - I've heard of many others.  I don't know how this stuff is on the market but I would never give it to another dog EVER.

[Sue and Buddy]

Could you please share more information. Was your dog a labradoodle or golden doodle or another? What was the reaction. How soon after giving the med did it occur. Did you have to take him to the vet? I would really appreciate knowing.

What did you end up using?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

My dog went into shock - panting, drooling, shaking, unresponsive.  Can't remember but I think he was about 10 months old - Goldendoodle.  Rushed to vet.  We now use Heartguard and topical.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

And yes we were giving it it two doses - 1/2 with breakfast and 1/2 with dinner.  It also made my ALD sick but just with an upset tummy. 

Our vet said that LOTS of dogs can't take it.

[Suzanne & Jack]

All three of my boys have been on Trifexis for at least 6 months.  My min. schnasuzer has had no problems and chews the pill up like a treat.  Jack and my catalan sheepdog do not like it.  I have to use peanut butter, and still force them to take it.  Elizabeth is right that they need to have a full tummy when they take it.  My catalan is a herding breed and he is the only one that has had a reaction.  He has vomited phlegm a few times.  I think this was because DH gave it to him with food, but not his meal.

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

Harley has been on this since he was old enough for heartworm prevention.  He has had no reactions.  And I have never found a flea on him. I have several friends who have switched also and there dogs have done fine on it.  

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

My vet and I discussed Trifexis and my concerns about it last month. She said that, in their practice, very few dogs have had adverse reactions with Trifexis, and taking it with a  meal and/or splitting the dose into two are both very helpful.

My vet confirmed what we have discussed here, that the dogs most likely to have problems are the herding breeds and mixes that have a mutation in the MDR-1 gene. She said that, if I was really concerned about it, we could have Cosmo tested for the mutation. She said the test would cost about $60. I'm considering it, because the MDR-1 mutation could have implications for other things besides the heartworm meds.

To  me, the whole issue is very strange, because the heartworm preventative (antihelmintic) in Sentinel and Interceptor is milbemycin oxime, the same as Trifexis. However, Interceptor does not have the anti-flea medication, and Sentinel uses lufenuron, which is different from Trifexis's spinosad. I wonder if it is the interaction between the two components in Trifexis that causes the problem.

[Phyllis & Duffy]

Thank you everyone.  Duffy has/had an immune mediated blood disorder and I am terrifed to give it to him.  He's fine now, but I think I've decided against it.  The vet told me the drug company that made sentinel was bought out by the one that makes Trifexis and sentinel will not be back.  The vet knows Duffy and knows his history and told me he would "probably" be fine, but I think I'm going to pass on it and look for something else.  Due to his blood disorder, he cannot have any vaccinations at all, not even rabies.  We have another dog and I'm also skeptical about giving it to him.  I'll see if the vet (ha,ha) will buy it back!