year round heartworm preventative?

Cassie'sMom said:
Does any of your dog take Sentinel? Do you have a pet insurance? If you do how much does it cover your dog's medicine?
Click to expand...

Sentinel and Interceptor are the same heartworm medicine. The difference between sentinel and interceptor is sentinel has an extra medication in it to help control fleas. That is why it is more expensive. Where I live interceptor is a 1/3 of the price of sentinel. Since my dog also gets k9 advantix during warmer months, she doesn't need the extra flea medicine.

if you are only concerned with the heartworm pill, then switch to interceptor. It's cheaper and is the same thing as sentinel.
 
Smudge said:
Smudge is on Interceptor and Fluffy is on Sentinel. The Sentinel where I live is only a few dollars higher a box. I think it is around the price you are paying. I don't have insurance on my dogs.
Click to expand...

Hi Smudge, ... well, OK, I hear you about the Sentinel ... I guess we will not find a better (lower) price. Thank you for your response.:smile2:
 
Why are you all focusing on the presence or absence of mosquitos? :confused2: Mosquitos don't cause heartworm.....a blood parasite (dirofilaria immitis) is the cause of heartworm disease.

The blood parasite requires the mosquito host in order to develop from L1 to the infective L3 stage which can be transmitted to our dogs, but there are very specific conditions (weather and time) for this to occur. If the temp dips below 57 then development stops regardless of whether mosquitos are still buzzing around.

It's been awhile since I read the work done by Dr. Knight at U Penn regarding seasonal timing of heartworm chemoprophylaxis, but it's worth a look for those curious about some of the conditions required for heartworm transmission.

FWIW I believe in risk-based medicine tailored to individual dogs and lifestyle (and really like that term/description :winkgrin:), live in VA and my dogs only received one dose of heartworm 'preventative' in the form of low dose Interceptor (aka Safeheart).
 
take4roll10 said:
Sentinel and Interceptor are the same heartworm medicine. The difference between sentinel and interceptor is sentinel has an extra medication in it to help control fleas. That is why it is more expensive. Where I live interceptor is a 1/3 of the price of sentinel. Since my dog also gets k9 advantix during warmer months, she doesn't need the extra flea medicine.

if you are only concerned with the heartworm pill, then switch to interceptor. It's cheaper and is the same thing as sentinel.
Click to expand...

Hi Take4, this is something to think about. Hubby says they don't give Cassie a flea medication on summer. So may be in our case it makes sense to buy Sentinel, or to give her a flea med. when summer comes. Also it will depend how much pet insurance will pay for Sentinel.

Thanks a lot for your response.
 
I just wanted to chime in again...not sure if this is a good suggestion or not... Anna is on Revolution. For years I bought it on-line from Australia. I would buy a six month supply for a dog which is 75 pounds, then take one cc for her dose per month. It made the medicine quite affordable. I have her tested yearly and it always has been negative. Recently, my vet posted a large disclaimer in his office about buying heartworm meds over seas, and how unreliable they can be. When it came to her shots and testing that year...she again was negative.

I like Revolution because it covers everything, fleas, worms, ticks, and mosquitoes.

One other tidbit to throw in - my neighbor, who studied veterinary medicine for a few years and is one of the animal control officers in our county, also buys the large dose, and administers it to her two dogs and two cats...She goes to the same vet, saw the same sign, and had her dogs tested (not sure about the kitties)...they also tested negative.
 
We make our decisions based on the simple concept of risk/benefit ratio. Ok, not such a flashy 'paradigm' , but works for me.

Saying, 'I see mosquitoes biting my dog, but at this temperature they presumably won't be carrying infective heartworm larvae, so I won't protect her' is, in my view, not the best risk/benefit decision.

I am (honestly, not meant in any way sarcastically) curious and always eager to learn - what is the difference between the terms 'preventative' and 'prophylaxis' ? - Dr. Mac
 
in memory of Charm

we waited to adopt a rescue because she tested + for HW
Charm was still very ill and needed more care
the vet heard a heart murmur
she died of heart failure just a few days after bringing her home
my heart cries every time I see her grave in the back yard
the medicine may seem expensive but it will save a pet an agonizing death
my 3 pups get Interceptor year round here in GA
I never want to go through that horror again
 
The Quahog said:
I am (honestly, not meant in any way sarcastically) curious and always eager to learn - what is the difference between the terms 'preventative' and 'prophylaxis' ? - Dr. Mac
Click to expand...

I would say layman's term (preventative) and medical term (propylaxis). To me they mean the same, just a different word for whomever you are talking to.
 
Emmasmom said:
I would say layman's term (preventative) and medical term (propylaxis). To me they mean the same, just a different word for whomever you are talking to.
Click to expand...

My question was a bit of an 'insider' thing. You will notice that in her (his?) somewhat aggressive post she used the word 'preventative' in parenthesis, suggesting 'so-called preventative.'
This is something of a sticking point with certain segments of the profession, particularly those promoting 'evidence based' medicine- that the monthly heartworm pill is not a preventative, it is a treatment. Most of us feel that's fine, whatever, but it's rather pedantic hair splitting.
However she used the term chemoprophylaxis earlier, and I was just curious as to why prophylaxis was acceptable but preventative was a dubious term. No big deal. - Dr. Mac
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top