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]

Yep, I just got it too. 

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

If you have had whipworm in your yard unfortunately your dogs can be reinfected so you really need to keep them on a wormer that protects them. And be very careful about other dogs coming into your yard that are not on a preventative. I had to learn more than I wanted to about worms with my recent foster. Luckily I knew day one she had whipworm.... But I still switched my guys to Sentinel Spectrum.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

From what I see on the website, Sentinel Spectrum contains only one "chemical" that regular Sentinel doesn't and that is praziquantel, which is apparently for preventing tapeworms, since that is also the only parasite for that is listed for Spectrum but not for the regular Sentinel. 

So the differences are:

Sentinel Spectrum:

Contains milbemycin oxime, lufenuron, and praziquantel 

and controls HW, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, fleas and tapeworm

Sentinel: 

Contains milbemycin oxime and lufenuron

and controls HW, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and fleas

If this is my dog, I'd go with the regular Sentinel, because tapeworm in dogs almost always comes from fleas, so if you are using a good flea preventative, you needn't worry about the tapeworms, IMO.

 

[Adina P]

Okay, thank you.

Now I just have to figure out which oral flea thingy will work best.  I really hate putting on topicals.  I suck at parting their hair and hate the smear it leaves.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You don't have to part their hair, lol. You just locate the right spot between their shoulder blades, place the tip of the applicator thing there against the skin and squeeze. Takes two seconds. 

[Adina P]

I always had understood that it has to go directly onto their skin (hence why I always parted their hair).  But your way sounds less stressful and tedious.

[Stella]

The vet told us we had to part their hair to apply it, which usually means I get it all over my fingers too! My curly doods coat is difficult to part down to the skin, and she did say not to worry too much about it as it is also absorbed through their hair follicles. I like Karens method much better!! ...... This discussion had also reminded me I forgot to do their monthly dose of Revolution this weekend - oops!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I use Frontline and the tip of the applicator is pointed. It's easy to put it against the skin without parting the hair, although i guess for a dog with very, very thick wooly hair it might take a little longer. If you just keep the tip against the skin, you're fine. 

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

I think this might be related to Frontline type oily spot on treatments. Revolution has to be applied directly to the skin because it is absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream. This is why it's really important to make sure you get as much Revolution as possible on the skin (by parting the hair), and as little as possible on the hair shaft where it wouldn't be absorbed since it is alcohol based and dries so quick.

[Sheila & Finnley]

Hmmm, I part hair too Adina. Karen does make it sound very easy !

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

I am going to disagree as Murphy had Tapeworm last year and we were on Frontline for fleas and ticks and I have never seen a flea on my guys. My vet said it came from ingesting a flea and if a flea jumped on Murph and he bit it or ate it before the frontline killed it..... Tapeworm. We are currently using Sentinel Spectrum and Frontline for ticks. I won't use the Frontline in Winter. The only problem I have with Sentinel is Wilson won't eat it (it is chewable) so we have to be creative with him.

[Stella]

I use Revolution, it works on heart worm, some (but not all) intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks. It is a liquid that you put on the back of their neck/ shoulder area once a month. We use it from May to November, which is the risky period for where we live. We used to use Sentinel, but it doesn't protect against ticks.

I also deworm with Ivermectin once it twice a year because my two have the disgusting habit of eating wildlife poop!!

No side effects from either, and our fecal tests always come out clear!'