# To My Dog's Vet: No, I don't have to buy HeartGuard from you! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 13, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746 "2004-08-13T20:50:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/81 "2012-07-21T01:13:46Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > OTOH, the stuff is poison - supposedly not to dogs but I don’t really trust how much testing is done on pet products and have seen many go by the wayside after they have been proved to be harmful (see “Tiny Timmy”). I’ve had dogs & cats for over 40 years and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I’ve used heartworm medication, yet the vets here push it like crazy. And a monthly preventative for intestinal parasites? Talk about overkill. I don’t know how bad mosquitoes are in S. Cal., but if you don’t use heartworm preventative in Georgia you’ve got a really good chance of ending up with a dog with heartworms. My first dog as a child died of them. As a vet tech, I saw many, many cases. The treatment for heartworms is much better than it used to be, but it’s still dangerous - pieces of the dead worms can break off and cause problems. If the worms are not treated they continue to breed until the heart is literally full of them. Treatment is also very expensive - I think it was over $500 for the boxer belonging to a friend of mine. Ivermectin is safe for most dogs in the correct dosage; I don’t think collies or collie mixes can take it. That’s why it comes from the vet instead of PetSmart. The preventative works by killing one stage of the heartworm; it does not kill adults. Of course it’s your dog and your money; if you choose not to use preventative no one can make you. If I had dogs I would use it, and I don’t like to medicate any animal more than absolutely necessary. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/82 "2012-07-21T01:53:11Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > I don’t know how bad mosquitoes are in S. Cal., but if you don’t use heartworm preventative in Georgia you’ve got a really good chance of ending up with a dog with heartworms. I thought I wrote something about certain areas - checks - nope, I guess I just thought it. You can’t read my thoughts? 🆒 Yes, if I lived in the deep south I’d have a lot of trouble with this issue as I don’t know that I could give my kids something like that every month. Mosquitoes in S Cal are almost non-existent if for no other reason than we don’t have much in the way of non-man made water! > [@](#): > > Treatment is also very expensive - I think it was over $500 for the boxer belonging to a friend of mine. So, the same as less than a years worth of preventative? > [@](#): > > Ivermectin is safe for most dogs in the correct dosage; Well, that’s the company line, but there are many dogs who have bad reactions who are not [collies or collie mixes](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1636591/) (table two). I had one dog who had seizures and a cat who had one seizure after using a “safe” flea/tick medication, and have had to deal with owners of dogs with weird, totally unknown-in-a-breed health issues that “came out of no where”. Such as a retriever that died of a heart condition that supposedly only toy dogs get. I had a dog die of lymphoma and while studying it I found that a common weed & feed put on lawns has been linked to it in dogs. Basically, I don’t give anything to my dogs that I cannot safely take myself. > [@](#): > > Of course it’s your dog and your money; if you choose not to use preventative no one can make you. If I had dogs I would use it, and I don’t like to medicate any animal more than absolutely necessary. Heartworm is a non-issue here, there is simply no reason to feed my dogs and cat poison every month. Particularly anything that also has something for intestinal worms in it, since those are not dangerous to healthy animals. If I have to run some Nemex down a dog twice during it’s lifetime, so much better than doing it every month. It has nothing to do with money - I’m the one that spent 10’s of thousands on that dog with lymphoma! ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/83 "2012-07-21T02:24:31Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > I thought I wrote something about certain areas - checks - nope, I guess I just thought it. You can’t read my thoughts? 🆒 Yes, if I lived in the deep south I’d have a lot of trouble with this issue as I don’t know that I could give my kids something like that every month. Mosquitoes in S Cal are almost non-existent if for no other reason than we don’t have much in the way of non-man made water! > > So, the same as less than a years worth of preventative? > > Well, that’s the company line, but there are many dogs who have bad reactions who are not [collies or collie mixes](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1636591/) (table two). I had one dog who had seizures and a cat who had one seizure after using a “safe” flea/tick medication, and have had to deal with owners of dogs with weird, totally unknown-in-a-breed health issues that “came out of no where”. Such as a retriever that died of a heart condition that supposedly only toy dogs get. I had a dog die of lymphoma and while studying it I found that a common weed & feed put on lawns has been linked to it in dogs. Basically, I don’t give anything to my dogs that I cannot safely take myself. > > Heartworm is a non-issue here, there is simply no reason to feed my dogs and cat poison every month. Particularly anything that also has something for intestinal worms in it, since those are not dangerous to healthy animals. If I have to run some Nemex down a dog twice during it’s lifetime, so much better than doing it every month. > > It has nothing to do with money - I’m the one that spent 10’s of thousands on that dog with lymphoma! Wow - if less than a year’s worth of preventative is $500 I’m sure glad I don’t have to give it to my cats! They do make it for cats now, but since heartworm disease is seldom fatal in cats I don’t give it. For some reason cats seldom get more that one or two worms; not a heartful. I wasn’t trying to imply you are a bad doggie momma! And no, you didn’t mention the lack of mosquitoes in S. Cal. May I send you a few? I have plenty to spare! ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/84 "2012-07-21T02:51:16Z")
I don’t understand the contention of the Vet’s receptionist that postal regulations do not permit mailing medicines. Mine are always mailed to me by my pharmacist. At least in that, I believe that she is incorrect. Bob (first post in a pit thread). ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/85 "2012-07-21T07:50:31Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Thanks for demonstrating the breathtakingly original concept that there’s an exception to every rule. Your contention is silly in the first place (I know there’s little chance of a response). It is almost\* always in the rational self interest of a consumer to find the best deal on a product (cost/benefit analysis of quality and price), just as it is almost always in the rational self interest of a producer or distributor to extract as much profit as possible from their customers. It is possible for there to exist a temporary disequilibrium caused by more efficient sources. Faulting the consumer for benefiting from them is pointless. The short term gains of early adopters just push the system back into equilibrium by forcing competitors to adopt the more efficient methods, which everyone stands to gain from. \*Barring tragedy of the Commons and boycotting certain companies. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/86 "2012-07-21T12:13:37Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > Wow - if less than a year’s worth of preventative is $500 I’m sure glad I don’t have to give it to my cats! No, she’s full of shit. The pricing varies based on your dog’s weight, but it’s less than $10/month for a freaking mastiff. It’s more generally in the $6-8 range. And treatment, at least around here, is more in the $800 range. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/87 "2012-07-21T17:45:40Z")
I am the receptionist/drug pusher at a vet’s office. 1. Snap 4dx is the heartworm test you guys are talking about. It tests for heartworm, lyme, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis. It has to be given once a year ( or every other year with a waiver signed on the off year and only if the preventative is being given year round) for a heartworm preventative prescription to be written. If the last heartworm test was given in December, you don’t need another test. We don’t even do heartworm tests on dogs until they’re a year old because it takes around 6 months or so for the infection to even show up on the test so we wait for the first annual exam after puppy shots are done. 2. Heartguard (from Merial) is available prescription only. My vet will not mail any prescription, heartguard or not, but I don’t know if this is her policy, state policy, or postal policy. She will absolutely NOT send a prescription to an online vendor and it has NOTHING to do with her profits. Online vendors get their drugs from untrustworthy means. They do not ever get them from the vendor. The medication is scanned when it leaves the vendor so they can track where they sent it. If they get a call from someone with medication from an online source and they trace it to a vet, they will stop selling to that vet (I’m not positive but I think they also get in trouble with the vet board). Anyway, medication of any kind bought from an online veterinary supply source is NOT backed by any warranty and your vet and the manufacturer will not guarantee its efficacy. This is why my boss wont deal with them. If you buy your Heartguard from your vet and your pet still gets heartworm, Merial has a policy in place for dealing with it. If you buy it from an online source, they will basically tell you to get lost. 3. Buying online doesn’t necessarily cost less. For instance: Heartguard - We have coupons from Merial. If a client buys a year supply of Heartguard from us (2 boxes), they will get a $12 refund check in the mail from Merial. Frontline - For every 3 month supply you buy, you will get a 1 month supply free. This is not an office sale. This is a Merial deal. Depending on the size you use and the cost in your area, you could save about $20 by buying a 3 month supply (and getting 4) from your vet. Other meds - we also have vendor supplied rebates and free vials for Vectra, Revolution, Advantix, Comfortis, and Iverhart. So, double check with your vet to see if they’re doing any of the vendor promotions because you might end up paying less than you would online and you will still get the benefit of the vendor warranty, along with the peace of mind knowing that your medication isn’t expired or improperly stored. I just checked my last bill. I got a 1 year supply of Heartguard in the 20-50 pound range. It cost me about $88 and I will be getting the refund check in the mail so in reality a 1 year supply cost me about $76.00. Of course, a 1 year supply only lasts 4 months because I have 3 dogs. 🆒 _I realize this is a zombie but reasons not to buy online are relevant, even 8 years later. 😃_ ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/88 "2012-07-21T18:08:47Z")
$88 a year is cheap insurance in my opinion, and I’d want the vet involved in the process for my mutt Bentley. Just my 2 cents. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/89 "2012-07-21T19:02:00Z")
**Congodwarf** , thanks for giving me new information! I haven’t worked in a vet’s office for 10 years so I’m kind of out of touch with current pricing! I didn’t know Merial invalidates the warranty if the Heartgard isn’t purchased from a vet; that’s good to know and information I will give to a friend who gets her meds online. Since I only have cats I don’t have to deal with Heartgard, but I go through a lot of Advantage, and the free vial offers save me a bundle. In addition, I have to use Revolution for one of my cats - he’s so much over Advantage’s top weight listing I don’t trust it - and my vet usually just gives me that one free. Keeping the cats totally indoors and keeping the outside of the house treated with sevin dust means I only have to treat twice a year or so, but with 7 cats it adds up! ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/90 "2012-07-23T07:22:52Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Well it might be a good way to find out how the story ended after 8 years. Sadly I am going to presume Buddy is no longer with us. Indeed, I heard poor buddy died from a bad heartworm infection he caught in January '05. They valiently tried to save him with medicine purchased from [1800petmeds.com](http://1800petmeds.com), but alas, the pills turned out to be nothing more than M&M’s. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/91 "2012-07-23T18:34:23Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Well it might be a good way to find out how the story ended after 8 years. Sadly I am going to presume Buddy is no longer with us. Update: Buddy is 11 now. He spent this past weekend at our lakehouse boating and chasing rabbits. Good weekend to be a beagle. He is currently napping; he doesn’t recover as quickly as he used to. I did chuckle when I saw a sign at my (new) vet’s office that said that the pharma companies are no longer producing medicines to treat heartworm, so either treat them year-round or risk them dying!! Yeah, whatever. I still don’t treat Buddy in the dead of winter. In subsequent years, I have also learned the hard way that OTC flea medicine is useless, so I now buy the prescription strength. Between his annual shots, Frontline, heartworm prevention (not HeartGuard, but I can’t remember the name) and Rimadyl (occasionally, for arthritis), Buddy sets me back ~$400 per annual visit. Dumb dog. Still I love him. I don’t know how poor people afford pets. But if the internet helps them alleviate the cost of medicines, then I’m STILL all for them. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/92 "2012-07-23T18:55:29Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I did chuckle when I saw a sign at my (new) vet’s office that said that **the pharma companies are no longer producing medicines to treat heartworm, so either treat them year-round or risk them dying**!! Umm, 😕 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/93 "2012-07-23T19:00:14Z")
> [@saje](#): > > Umm, 😕 You need to buy the heartwork PREVENTION medicine because they aren’t making the heartworm treatment should you not succeed in preventing, and the dog ends up with heartworms. I wonder what success rate the treatment had to justify not making it at all. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/94 "2012-07-23T19:46:31Z")
Heartworm positive dogs can be treated w/ Ivermectin (+ Doxycycline), just with different dosing procedures than preventative dosing. And it wasn’t so much the success rate as the actual need for it, because it was expensive and hard on the dog. Ivermectin is a slower treatment, but effective if the infection isn’t massive. (What sensitive dogs like collies are treated with, that I don’t know) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/95 "2012-07-23T21:59:04Z")
Maybe there’s never a truly mosquito-free interval in southern Ohio, but I guarantee there’s one - a good long one - in Ontario. So, unless a new more robust mosquito has arrived that can withstand sustained temps in the teens and twenty’s (degree F), or worse, whyTF did my dog’s vet insist on testing for heartworm every May? Notice I said “did my dog’s vet”, as in past tense . . . ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/96 "2012-07-23T22:37:25Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > Wow - if less than a year’s worth of preventative is $500 I’m sure glad I don’t have to give it to my cats! They do make it for cats now, but since heartworm disease is seldom fatal in cats I don’t give it. For some reason cats seldom get more that one or two worms; not a heartful. > > I wasn’t trying to imply you are a bad doggie momma! And no, you didn’t mention the lack of mosquitoes in S. Cal. May I send you a few? I have plenty to spare! > [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > No, she’s full of shit. The pricing varies based on your dog’s weight, but it’s less than $10/month for a freaking mastiff. It’s more generally in the $6-8 range. And treatment, at least around here, is more in the $800 range. Too many cat ladies. Cannot keep track. Urk. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/97 "2012-07-23T23:46:26Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > A week ago, Buddy fractured his dewclaw so I took him to the vet. They decided to sedate him to remove the claw. I stopped at the receptionist’s desk on the way out and asked for a 6 month supply of HeartGuard. She looked at his file, frowned and said, “It’s been awhile since he’s had a heartworm test.” > > “He had his annual in December.” > > “Oh, well the doctor will probably want to repeat it. If you give heartworm medicine to a dog that has heartworms, he may go into anaphylactic shock.” > > I smiled and said through gritted teeth, “I have been giving him his heartworm medicine and he’s hasn’t gone into shock yet.” > > “But it’s been over a year since you’ve gotten heartworm medicine from us. You can’t have been giving it on a regular basis…” > > “I don’t give my dog heartworm medicine in the winter because there are no FLEAS. I give it to him during the summer months only.” > > “Well, it’s recommended you give it to him each month.” > > Me: “Well, I don’t. Can I please just have the medicine?” > > “Well, I’ll have to discuss it with Dr. B. I’m sure he’ll want to do another test.” > > Oh, for the love of pete! I was late for an appt so I said, “Fine, you can discuss it with him if you’d like, but know that I am NOT paying for another test. It’s a DOG and if he dies of shock, I’ll live with it. My husband will pick him up in a half hour on his way home from work. Don’t forget to give them to him because you are 1/2 hour from my home.” > > She takes out a pack and puts it on top of the desk. “That’s not a problem.” She said sweetly. “IF Dr. B approves.” > > Husband comes home with Buddy. $150 bill for removing a dewclew, and of course, no freaking Heartworm medicine. Nothing mentioned about a test or anything. So this means 1/2 hour trip to the vet’s office to pick it up. I call the office and the lady feigns complete ignorance re my request to give the stuff to my husband (even though both of my kids were standing there and heard the entire discussion), when in reality, I’m sure she just freaking plumb forgot. No big deal; I understand how these things happen. So I nicely ask her to mail it to me. And she says no can do. > > “You are 1/2 hour away from my house. I am not making a special trip to pick up heartworm medicine, especially since I wanted to buy them when I was there and you wouldn’t let me.” > > “I’m sorry, but due to postal regulations, I can’t mail out medicine.” > > What a line of shit. > > So I get onto the internet, find a pet medicine supplier and fill out their form. Of course, it requires a prescription so they ask for my vet’s name, which I gladly give them. > > The next day I get an e-mail from the internet supplier, saying that my vet has denied authorization. My blood pressure rises and I call the vet. > > “I’m calling re the internet order for heartguard.” > > Same lady. “Oh, I’m so glad you called. I was going to call you. Dr. B doesn’t like working with internet companies.” > > “Why is that?” > > “Because they are getting sued right and left for not taking proper precautions like getting appropriate authorizations.” > > Me: “Well, they obviously called you to get authorization.” > > “Yes, but Dr. B doesn’t like working with them. He doesn’t want to be associated with people who get sued all the time. They are not looking out for your pet’s health.” > > Me: "I understand exactly why Dr. B doesn’t want to associate with internet companies. He makes a very nice profit margin on these things and the internet is cutting into his profit. " > > “That is not true. It is because he cares about your pet’s health and they do not.” > > “Well, I care about my pet, too. That is why I would like to get some heartworm medicine. Will he authorize it or not?” > > “He will not authorize an internet company to provide it, but if you pick up the prescription, you can take it wherever you wish.” > > Me: “And you are unable to mail me the prescription?” > > “It has to be done in person, I’m afraid.” > > “Ma’am, you just explained to me that the reason you don’t want to deal with intenet companies is because they do not care about my pet’s health. It’s quite clear to me that you dont’ care that my pet is out of heartworm medicine because you keep putting up roadblocks preventing me from getting it. Why is this?” > > “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” > > Me: “You know exactly what I mean. I tell you what, I will come there in person to pick up the prescription. While I’m there I will also ask for my dog’s file because I will switch to a vet who is closer to my home. If I have to drive all over creation to get a prescription, then I might as well go to one who is convenient to me.” > > “That’s your prerogative.” She said. > > “I hope whatever profit you were going to make on this HeartGard was worth losing a client over.” > > For the love of Christ, has it gotten so bad in veterinary medicine that the profit margin on these things is so essential that they’d risk losing a client? I have news for you. The internet ain’t going away. Either be apart of the future or get the hell out of the way. I have a good vet. They wanted to fill the script. I said I want the script so I can shop around. They said bring in the price and they will match it. I asked what they charged first. Turned out, they charge less then all the prices I found online ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/98 "2012-07-24T02:21:28Z")
Since we’re all here anyway, does anyone have an opinion on Trifexis? It’s a new all in one (heartworm, intestinal worms, fleas) monthly tablet. My vet is pushing it pretty hard. The Bay Area isn’t exactly a thriving heartworm hotspot, nor do my indoor dogs get a lot of fleas or worms. But we do hit the dog parks and off leash hiking areas a bit, so they’re exposed to poop. It’s pretty expensive, but I’m giving my two ~20lb basenjis half of the 20-40lb weight range tablets. Wonder what the vets will say about THAT…! ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/99 "2012-07-24T02:51:19Z")
> [@saje](#): > > (What sensitive dogs like collies are treated with, that I don’t know) Milbemycin oxime (Interceptor, Sentinel) can be used instead. Heck, there are more preventive drugs that are not just Ivermectin, and new ones are probably still beind developed. The thing is that ivermectin is much cheaper in general than Interceptor (or so they claim). For all your heartworm questions, the #1 website to consult is, at least in the US of course: [American Heartworm Society](http://www.heartwormsociety.org/) Digging through some other search engines, it seems the primary adulticide (Immiticide) is available, but just on a case by case (ie, the vet cannot ask for a whole lot, but gets what it needs to treat a specific animal). Also, the guidelines have changed and what a few years ago was a “slow treatment for sick dogs” is now more “standard treatment for asymptomatic or symptomatic dogs”. The whole idea is to make it much more safer for the dog. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746/100 "2012-07-24T05:37:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Too many cat ladies. Cannot keep track. Urk. And some of us don’t even label ourselves as such. Four cats rule my house. As you might expect, there are frequent challenges to the throne. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-dogs-vet-no-i-dont-have-to-buy-heartguard-from-you/259746.md?page=6)