We had a scare this past week. It was time for Charlie’s Trifexis dose, a combination heart worm and flea preventative. I gave him food, then the pill and as usual he didn’t feel too good during the day. Normal, it can cause stomach upset, vomiting, etc. I always time the dose so I make sure he makes it past the one hour point without vomiting. He did. Whew, I thought, coast is clear. Not. About six hours later he started to stumble. He was disoriented. He was stretching his neck back and his eyes were partly closed. He had tremors. I felt his heart. Not knowing what “normal” was I did know that his chest felt quite like an explosion over and over. We took him to an emergency vet clinic in Mount Pleasant, SC called Veterinary Specialty Care. These people were nothing short of amazing. They acted promptly. They took him in the back to be seen by the doctor. Then we were called into a room where the doctor told us that his heart rate was dangerously high, 220. After trying to rule out everything in the world, his diagnosis, as she suspected was Trifexis toxicity. Trifexis works on fleas by messing with their neurological system. Sometimes it can do the same in dogs which would explain the odd behavior, the tremors… he stayed overnight so that he could be monitored, he was sedated so he could sleep through this reaction. They’ve seen it many times. UGH! Ever since Sentinel disappeared off the market we’ve all been steered toward Trifexis, in part because the darn fleas have gotten clever and are starting to not respond to the older meds. I can tell you it was a scary time. It took a few days before he was fully himself again, now he’s left with nothing but a shaved leg – so he’s fine, and all is well! We did take him to our regular vet for a follow up, and this was the second Trifexis Toxicity case in three days… I don’t want to alarm you, I just want to make you aware.
If you have any questions about giving Trifexis I would research it thoroughly, I thought I did, but…
IF YOUR DOG IS HAVING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, (not acting normally, arching head up oddly, difficulty walking, stumbling, if their heart rate feels strangely fast, drooling (other than normal), tremors, vomiting and more…) GET THEM TO THE VET OR EMERGENCY VET IF YOU CAN.
UPDATE: Charlie’s latest regimen is Sentinel for fleas and heart worm prevention. He’s been on that over a year, and so far, so good!
****COMFORTIS also contains SPINOSAD as the key ingredient! So, if you’re dog is having symptoms from Trifexis they can experience the same from Comfortis since it’s essentially the same drug. Trifexis just has heart worm prevention in addition to flea protection. I am not a vet. Check with your vet after your dog has a reaction. LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU GAVE THEM so they don’t get it (or anything like it) again…
Like people, some medications react differently to some animals. So if there was a reaction once, I (me, being the non-vetirinarian expert, sigh) would steer clear…
For technical assistance or to report a suspected adverse drug reaction, contact Elanco Animal Health at 1-888-545-5973. Additional information can be found at www.trifexis.com. Alternatively, suspected adverse drug reactions may be reported to FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm055305.htm
Thank you to my many Facebook friends who sent well wishes and prayers, it made all the difference! Catch you back here tomorrow!
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How to Give Your Dog Trifexis?
Trifexis is a beef-flavored, chewable tablet that you can offer to your dog like a treat. It doesnât have to be chewed â you can give it to your dog like any other tablet medicine. Give your dog Trifexis with food for maximum effectiveness.
Once your dog has swallowed the tablet, Trifexis gets to work on killing fleas, preventing heartworm disease, and protecting against intestinal parasites. Follow the advice of your veterinarian for the correct dosing for your dog.
Dr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.
Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie cant officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pets condition.
****COMFORTIS also contains SPINOSAD as the key ingredient! So, if you’re dog is having symptoms from Trifexis they can experience the same from Comfortis since it’s essentially the same drug. Trifexis just has heart worm prevention in addition to flea protection. I am not a vet. Check with your vet after your dog has a reaction. LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU GAVE THEM so they don’t get it (or anything like it) again…
We had a scare this past week. It was time for Charlie’s Trifexis dose, a combination heart worm and flea preventative. I gave him food, then the pill and as usual he didn’t feel too good during the day. Normal, it can cause stomach upset, vomiting, etc. I always time the dose so I make sure he makes it past the one hour point without vomiting. He did. Whew, I thought, coast is clear. Not. About six hours later he started to stumble. He was disoriented. He was stretching his neck back and his eyes were partly closed. He had tremors. I felt his heart. Not knowing what “normal” was I did know that his chest felt quite like an explosion over and over. We took him to an emergency vet clinic in Mount Pleasant, SC called Veterinary Specialty Care. These people were nothing short of amazing. They acted promptly. They took him in the back to be seen by the doctor. Then we were called into a room where the doctor told us that his heart rate was dangerously high, 220. After trying to rule out everything in the world, his diagnosis, as she suspected was Trifexis toxicity. Trifexis works on fleas by messing with their neurological system. Sometimes it can do the same in dogs which would explain the odd behavior, the tremors… he stayed overnight so that he could be monitored, he was sedated so he could sleep through this reaction. They’ve seen it many times. UGH! Ever since Sentinel disappeared off the market we’ve all been steered toward Trifexis, in part because the darn fleas have gotten clever and are starting to not respond to the older meds. I can tell you it was a scary time. It took a few days before he was fully himself again, now he’s left with nothing but a shaved leg – so he’s fine, and all is well! We did take him to our regular vet for a follow up, and this was the second Trifexis Toxicity case in three days… I don’t want to alarm you, I just want to make you aware.
Like people, some medications react differently to some animals. So if there was a reaction once, I (me, being the non-vetirinarian expert, sigh) would steer clear…
✨This is where you can add a small tip for appreciation for featuring you, or if you enjoy this website. Thank you!
This is a place to add a tip ($10 increments, Im not greedy) if you appreciate this website, the house plans or if I have featured you in some way. Not required, but appreciated! Thank you!
FAQ
Can you overdose your dog on Trifexis?
Overdose of Trifexis may cause: Vomiting. Salivation. Tremors.
What happens if my dog eats 2 Trifexis?
How long does Trifexis stay in a dog’s system?
Is Trifexis toxic?