NBR: flea treatment question for dogs

jshrop

Hello to my southern ladies, I'm hoping someone can help me. We have a flea problem with my big guy-- read lots of hair, and resistant southern super fleas. So I've heard great things about this Trifexis, that it's a wonder drug! Well, I took my dog and got him on it. He has been lethargic ever since we gave it to him two weeks ago. It's like he's depressed or something. He also went from eating twice a day to once. I was wondering if anyone has used it and experienced the same, did it go away? I don't want to give him another dose if it's going to keep affecting him this way. He's also 10 years old, but this laziness has come on since I gave him the treatment. Does anyone else have a suggestion for flea treatments here? Advantix and those topical flea treatments don't seem to work on him because his hair is so thick and can't disperse.

flerlgirl

We use Trifexis with no issues. If nothing else has changed for your dog (food, environment, etc), I would talk to your vet. Maybe they have something similar you can try that will have fewer side effects. 

kbellizio3

No experience with the actual product (we use Advantix, but we have a short hair and ticks are more out issue than fleas up where I live). But if he's having any out of the ordinary behavior I'd call the vet and get it checked out and see if they can recommend something else. Good luck!

lola4411

ditto.  we have used trifexis for years too with no issues and our dog never misses his meals lol.  just check in with the vet.

jshrop

I called the vet that prescribed it and have no clue who I talked to, but he was like "they probably overdosed your dog, I wouldn't do it again." But then he had no other suggestions. It was one of those vets that's inside a petco. I called the vet from home (Pennsylvania) that has always taken care of him, spoke to one of the techs there who was going to check with the doc, and I'm waiting for them to call me back. I was just irritated with the jackass I talked to and wondered if my Southern Sistas had any experience. Up north I never even put him on a flea treatment because he never had them before.

kjohnson1002

We had a flea situation a few years ago. I purchase a natural powder online that you sprinkle on their beds and where they hang. Worked like a charm. It's called diatomaceous earth.

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gatorMom2014

I don't know anything about Trifexis, but since you brought up flea medication--do you ladies worry about using flea medicine and other dog medicines in general while pregnant? We have been lying to the vet saying we are using the flea medicine so they will lay off, but then not using it. @jshrop I know this is not an option in the south--I lived in Florida for a while, and the dog would get fleas as soon as the flea medicine ran off each month! Where we live now I have never seen a flea on my dog, so I prefer to take the risk. Our dog came from a shelter in October and has recurring skin conditions due to lack of care before we got her, so she has been through a bunch of different things that I prefer not to touch while pregnant: ear cleaner with Salicic acid in it, anti-itch spray not to be used on pregnant dogs, and medicated shampoo. When I asked my dr they said to have my husband apply these Meds and then don't touch the dog. I do the best I cam but it's not realistic to not touch the dog at all since she sleeps in our bed and is begging to be patted and loved all the time. I'm just wondering if this has been an issue the rest of you dog owners have struggled with during this pregnancy. I know it has stressed me out.

TakeMeAway55

If he goes indoors, wash everything! Carpet, sheets, etc. Also, use flea shampoo and brush him with a flea brush.

coco62014

While living in FL, I had the same problem with fleas and the topical wasn't cutting it. Our boxers did really well on Comfortis which is oral but not a combo drug. However, it is the same active flea killer as Trifexis.

Trifexis is a combo of flea/tick and heartworm medication. After reading about bad reactions, I wouldn't fill the RX my vet prescribed for our dog. It might be too much at once for him. If it was me, I would try something else and not make him go through another month of it.

dragonfly711

If you have not changed anything else you should call the vet, it could be a reaction to the medication.  Let them be aware and they might want to see him as well.  It is good for vets to know if there are reactions also.

As for Advantics  there should not be an issue with is dispersing.  You have to make sure that you part the hair and put it actually on the skin with most of these topical flea/tick medications you want to part the hair so it is directly on the skin.

If it is a big dog you can put it in  a few different places between the shoulder blades  and then go back 1-2 other spots from there.  Might just want to keep your pup distracted for a few mins so he doesnt try to lick at it.  

https://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Advantage-to-Dogs

this is a good link to show how to apply even though it is for advantage they should all be applied the same way.

HOpe this helps.  Call your vet and let them know about the Trifexis and his symptoms!!!

( just FYI I am a vet tech)