No one using this lower dosage?
Heartworm Doses
I am just curious to know if anyone on the forum is using the "safeheart" dose of Interceptor? Here is a link to the FDA article. I plan to discuss this with my vet at the end of the month when Yogi is having his check up. Only thing is that IF your dog gets heartworm on this lower dose, the company will not pay for treatment.
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/1365.htm
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/1365.htm
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I read the FDA summary. After I read it, I wondered why someone would want to use 'Safeheart' instead of Interceptor. All the dogs in the study were heartworm negative at the end, and Safeheart had markedly more side effects. My vet has always said that Interceptor is very, very safe....So, I'm curious about the benefits of Safe heart.
Actually the Safeheart dose is Interceptor at a reduced dosage. If you use the smaller dose you will just be getting the heartworm protection and not the intestinal parasites protection. Studies have shown that Interceptor and the like products do cause damage to the liver over time. Here is a link to another article from Whole Dog Journal which explains it in further detail. I don't know why these companies don't just make a pill for heartworm only. Most dogs probably do not need to be wormed monthly for roundworms etc. I would rather treat my dog for those type of worms if he has them.
Safeheart contains 2.3 mg of milbemycin oxime for dogs from 2 to 50 pounds, and 5.75 mg for dogs 50 to 125 pounds. Interceptor contains 2.3 mg for dogs up to 10 pounds, and 5.75 mg for dogs 11 to 25 pounds. So if your dog weighs more than 50 pounds, you can give the Interceptor for dogs 11-25 pounds, otherwise you can use the one for dogs up to 10 pounds.
http://www.dogaware.com/HeartwormPrevention.html
Safeheart contains 2.3 mg of milbemycin oxime for dogs from 2 to 50 pounds, and 5.75 mg for dogs 50 to 125 pounds. Interceptor contains 2.3 mg for dogs up to 10 pounds, and 5.75 mg for dogs 11 to 25 pounds. So if your dog weighs more than 50 pounds, you can give the Interceptor for dogs 11-25 pounds, otherwise you can use the one for dogs up to 10 pounds.
http://www.dogaware.com/HeartwormPrevention.html
Thanks for posting this- I'm going to discuss this with my vet next month when we go in for Murray's anal gland expression-
Interesting. Still, the higher side effects are funny--usually side effects are dose-related--the higher the dose, the more the side effects. I'll have to talk to my vet to see what they say.
Actually the Safeheart dose is Interceptor at a reduced dosage. If you use the smaller dose you will just be getting the heartworm protection and not the intestinal parasites protection. Studies have shown that Interceptor and the like products do cause damage to the liver over time. Here is a link to another article from Whole Dog Journal which explains it in further detail.
equimax horse wormer paste one click on the knob per hound keeps them free from all internal parasites including tapeworms.been using it for 2 years now no problems at all.once a month mixed in with their food.i usually mix it in with a can of sardines into the food they love it and it's cheaper that anything else out there.
Some things to keep in Mind
It appears that one major reason for the introduction of a lower dose product was so that it coulb be given safely to younger puppies, this could well be the reason for the higher side effects
The lower does was test only against a 30 day cycle all the higher does rates are tested against a 60 day cycle to provie efficacy even if a month was missed this extra protection is quite desirable.
Given the substaintial time that has elapsed from FDA approval and the lack of Novartis not marketing a Product that it would have exclusive access and use to young puppies indicates that there own interall addition test or cost/risk analysis show the lower dose not to be a good risk. I would be give serious pause as to why Novartis in the end has not marked the product after nearly ten years since it got approval.
It appears that one major reason for the introduction of a lower dose product was so that it coulb be given safely to younger puppies, this could well be the reason for the higher side effects
The lower does was test only against a 30 day cycle all the higher does rates are tested against a 60 day cycle to provie efficacy even if a month was missed this extra protection is quite desirable.
Unfortunatelly there is no details or even mention of heartworm preventors causing liver damage over time nor could I find any link to an actual study that demonstrates such a link. If you have such Info it would be appreaciated if you would supply it. The only thing I could find is DEC which is the old dailly tabblets which are almost impossible to find for certain susceptable dogs is known to cause liver problems but I could not find anything linking the monthy preventors with liver problems. Ivermectin has been asscociated with problems in collies and other herding breeds and a genetic problem that can be test for has been shown to be the cause. Even then the amount of ivermectin in the hearworm preventative is far below the minimium threshhold to cause a problem in such affective dogs. those that had problems were overdosed.Studies have shown that Interceptor and the like products do cause damage to the liver over time. Here is a link to another article from Whole Dog Journal which explains it in further detail.[/b]
Given the substaintial time that has elapsed from FDA approval and the lack of Novartis not marketing a Product that it would have exclusive access and use to young puppies indicates that there own interall addition test or cost/risk analysis show the lower dose not to be a good risk. I would be give serious pause as to why Novartis in the end has not marked the product after nearly ten years since it got approval.
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