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. 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Revolution, is a topical Heart Worm monthly preventative. Also prevents and controls fleas. Enzo has been on it for about 4-5 months now . Love that it is a topical ...since she is a very light eater and other forms gave her stomach troubles.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9567

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh yes, I forgot about Revolution. I wanted to use it, and asked JD's dermatologist about it. She says it's one of the safest preventatives, but she also feels that it might not be as effective against the things it's supposed to protect against as the individual products. Since a flea infestation could be deadly for him, I stayed with the Heartgard and Frontline. But I think it's a good option for healthy younger dogs who aren't at the highest risk for these parasites.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Yes, oral for HW and topical for flea and tick was what I read to be best combo, correct? I'm still curious about Frontline Plus - which topical flea n tick preventative do you use, Karen? Thx

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've been using Frontline Plus since 2004 on two dogs and a cat, plus some fosters, with no problems ever. Even for JD with all his health issues.

[Amy and Annabelle]

My vet told me that Frontline doesn't work as good as it once did and she doesn't recommend it anymore. It has been around so long the fleas are becoming immune to it now or so she says.  I inquired about Nexgard after reading about it on here and she thought that was a great idea. She also told me about one that lasts for 3 months but I have forgotten what it was called. She gobbles up the Sentinel like a treat and if the Nexgard is the same way then I will know she has taken her full dose. With the Frontline I sometimes wonder if I did a very good job of getting it on her. Living out here in the country with deer and other wildlife, I want to make sure that she did. She did have a worm in her poop a few months ago while on Revolution and that is the reason I switched her to Sentinel Spectrum.

[Stella]

I've been using Revolution for flea, tick, and heart worm prevention without problems for the last five years. I also give an oral dewormer. This year my vet changed their recommendation to combining Advantage and Advantix. After reading some pretty scary stuff about the side effects of Advantix I decided to stick with the Revolution.

[BG and Gavin]

Right. You may remember that Gavin got fleas while on Revolution. It was mild, however I had to go through the whole rigmarole.  They gave me a years supply for free and I still use it with good results since the flea episode 3 years ago. 

[BG and Gavin]

this was supposed to be a reply to Karen's post lol

[Stella]

:)