So my vet gave us vectra to put on Snow for her fleas. I was told that vectra was not something to mess with and also directed to several comments about how it was an awful thing and had really bad results such as making the dog very sick and manic even. Hope to get some insight on this... The oils aren't really working 100% although they are working.

Robyn, the oils wont kill fleas like the chemicals, they repel them. I wouldn't use Vectra. It's pretty strong. I would use a dose of Revolution. I know its puppy safe, Cato had no adverse reactions and it's heartworm preventative too. But I would only use it to KILL what fleas are left. Then the oils will be there after you have taken down the infestation.

I would NOT put that vectra on your dog. It has very high instances of adverse reactions. My fiancees brother was given some by his vet a few months ago for his chi/greyhound thing and the dog ended up spending 2 days in the hospital. You can find more reviews on it with some easy googling......im seriously surprised its still on the market.

ArkansMom wrote:

I would NOT put that vectra on your dog. It has very high instances of adverse reactions. My fiancees brother was given some by his vet a few months ago for his chi/greyhound thing and the dog ended up spending 2 days in the hospital. You can find more reviews on it with some easy googling......im seriously surprised its still on the market.

Vectra, to me, falls into the same category as BioSpot and Hartz. I'd never use it, and I'm shocked a vet is recommending it.

hypers987 wrote:

ArkansMom wrote:

I would NOT put that vectra on your dog. It has very high instances of adverse reactions. My fiancees brother was given some by his vet a few months ago for his chi/greyhound thing and the dog ended up spending 2 days in the hospital. You can find more reviews on it with some easy googling......im seriously surprised its still on the market.

Vectra, to me, falls into the same category as BioSpot and Hartz. I'd never use it, and I'm shocked a vet is recommending it.

Quite a few vets are recommending it - my old vet did but I promptly told them I won't be using it after the first one and doing some research.

Hey Everyone,

My puppy is 4 months old and I just gave her her 3rd Vectra treatment today. She had an absolute fit and whined terribly when I applied it to her. I am wondering if the Vectra medicine may be hurting her or causing her pain?

I applied the medicine around 7pm and since she does not let me or anyone go near her neck where it was applied. She will run away from me if I even attempt to put her collar on or pet her by her neck...

I do recall her not sitting still for the first two doses but this particular time she absolutely flipped out.

Coicidentally she has an appointment with the vet tomorrow for vaccinations so I will definitely talk to him and figure out what is going on possibly. My vet has 2 dogs himself and uses Vectra 3D and recommended it since it suppsoedly works better than frontline/advantix and I purchase the meds directly from the vet. I trust my vet and they are very reputable- so I don't think my vet would be recommending a medicine that would be harmful.

I definitely do not want my little pup to be in pain or be subject to a harmful medicine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-scott

Not a fan of Vectra. The chemicals are really harsh. I, personally, put Vectra in the same category as BioSpot and Hartz. But that's just me. Hope Kaia feels better! Keep us updated!

Thanks- I'll let you know what the vet has to say!

What product do you use?

-Scott

my dogs use trifexis (sp?) it's a pill . it doesn't actually repel fleas but if a flea bites them then it dies so it has no time to lay eggs. It also prevents heartworms so 2 birds one stone

I also use trifexis and love it. Haven't seen one flea! And with heartworm as bad as it is here in SC I have to keep up on it.

I hand Anna the pill and she chews it up. The vet told me that they flavor it so Anna thinks she is getting some type of treat!

ikwym it's the only pill that Dakota has never spit out the first time i give it to him lol i have to hide anything else in chunks of hamburger

Anything else I put down Anna's throat or else she will eat the hot dog for instance and spit out the pill.

SiberianKaia wrote:

Thanks- I'll let you know what the vet has to say!

What product do you use?

-Scott

I have Kale on Trifexis and Comfortis/Heartguard. I rotate months. Last month both Kale and Violet got their Trifexis pills. This month on the 15th they'll get the Comfortis and Heartguard. I also spray the yard with an IGR twice a year to keep the yard parasite free as well. We flea the cats as needed with Advantage.

Glad I seen this topic since we have been having a terrible time with fleas this year. I have always used Frontline but the last few months I feel like I might as well have put water on the girls instead. The lady we rescued Skyler from said that Frontline is pretty much going down hill, and that there is another product out that starts with a T but I dont think its Trifexis, but then again I have a terrible memory.

What all does Trifexis protect against?

We have tried the Confrotis also, but it didn't seen to do much of anything either. Seened like I was giving Kota a does of Capstar to kill all the fleas about once every 3 months. We have sprayed the yard but nothing really seems to make a difference and its driving me nuts. Specially since I think Kota has a flea allergy and just sits and digs out herself all the time.

Trifexis Is an Elanco product and is an upgrade from Sentinel by Novartis. It kills adult fleas, prevents heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.

I think we may have to give that a try since neither Frontline nor Comfortis has seemed to do much. I am just hoping that we have a TERRIBLE winter and that some of the nasty little bugs will finally die since last year we didn't have a winter and the bugs have been ridiculous this year. I would also be nice to give 1 pill instead of 2. Can you buy that from most vets or should I order it from somewhere.

I have looked at 1-800-Pet-Meds but have never really ordered from them.

Most vets carry Trifexis. If your vet carries Comfortis, then they most likely carry Trifexis. Both are by the same company. It's a prescription though because of the heartworm component.

So I'm reviving this thread because I took Caoimhe to the vet today and the doctor tried to push Vectra on me. I couldn't remember what I read on here, but remembered that it began with a "V". Needless to say I will not be putting this on my girl. I already ordered the essential oils and started her on Sentinel. I really need to find a holistic vet

Cortnie,

Both of mine are on the Sentinel and have been doing great. This is clearly your choice and I'm not trying to force anything on you but with how bad the tick problem is around here in Maine (and if your not trekking through the woods this might not matter) but even my holistic vet said I should use the topicals because of the amount of problems he has had with people thinking the oils work around here. When I move, I do plan on using the oils, but around here it is very risky if you are taking her into the woods a lot. I obviously would use the oils now because it is nearing the end of the season, but next year, even your holistic vet might talk you out of the oils. Just a thought, from my previous experience. And do your research before they talk you into the Lyme vaccination if you haven't decided either way yet. I honestly really wish, I hadn't done it. My previous vet, just made it sound so great so I took their advice and did my research after and was horrified.

What's so bad about the Lyme vaccine? I did it for Dizzy because I knew we'd be hiking a lot, but I admit I never really researched it.

I know their are side affects to every vaccine, but I just didn't think it was necessary to risk kidney failure, arthritis later in life, and it can cause just an adverse reaction to the vaccine which can cause immediate joint pain and lameness all when they get the vaccine they can still get Lyme disease. I personally just wish, I skipped it didn't risk anything and just did topical and always check them for ticks.

Oh wow. I had no idea of those side effects.

I didn't either, I just wish my old vet had told me about the cons, so I could of made a more educated decision. I mean so far both of my have reacted well to the vaccine, but I don't know what will be the side affects later on. They are in the woods a lot during the summer, so maybe it has helped them and I haven't known, but if they can get it even with the vaccine I might of personally opted out of doing it all together.

But then again it does all depend on how often they are in tick infested areas that would factor into my decision if it was worth it or not. I mean mine aren't in those areas every day, if they were I might think differently about the vaccine as worth the risk.

Erica- I am just going to do the oils for now, whereas it's getting cold, and she's still a puppy, so tromping through the woods is not something that's going to be happening. Thanks for the heads up about the holistic reccomendation though. What do you use for topical? Frontline?


As far as the Lyme goes, my breeder said the same thing you did and I will not be getting it for her. They basically didn't even listen to me when I said I didn't want it and scheduled it for her anyway. The vet I saw just really rubbed me the wrong way. I will be going somewhere else next I think.

No, I don't use Frontline. My vet recommends Parastar Plus, and we have had good luck with it.

Definitely look for a vet that you feel comfortable at and that listens to you. I think we tried two before we finally settled on our vet now, and I'm so happy that we switched to the one that we have because they don't just do stuff to make money, they really do everything in the best interest of the animal.