Heartworm Medication for Dogs: Trifexis Review
Trifexis is a drug that has been doing rounds in the market for quite some time now. Some love it, others are apprehensive about it.
If you go through countless reviews, you’ll find some very positive and others very damaging.
As such, you may be unsure on whether to purchase it for your dog or not.
Here is a comprehensive review to help you decide.
What is Trifexis?
It’s basically chewable drug given to your dog to prevent a variety of conditions. Top on the list is protecting the canines from heartworms.
It’s a broad spectrum medication, and also protects from other worms like hookworms, whipworms and roundworms, prevents infestations and kills fleas.
Typically, it’s for dogs older than 8 weeks or at least weighing 5 lbs.
This is not a drug that you just waltz right into a store and buy. It’s a powerful drug. You require a prescription from your veterinarian. How does it compare with other drugs of a similar nature in the market?
Trifexis vs Sentinel
Let’s begin with a comparison between Trifexis and Sentinel. The two drugs have numerous similarities.
For one, they prevent heartworm disease. In addition to that, they protect the dog from infection by fleas, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.
However, both are ineffective against tapeworms. They both have the active ingredient Milbemycin Oxime that works against heartworms.
They differ in the active ingredient against fleas, with Sentinel having Lufenuron, while Trifexis has Spinosad. Both drugs come in beef flavored tablets, though Sentinel tablets are smaller in size.
They differ in weight requirements and costs.
Sentinel requires that your dog be at least 2 lbs, while for Trifexis it must be 4 lbs or more.
Also when it comes to age, with Trifexis, your pooch has to be at least 8 weeks old, while for Sentinel it can be as young as 4 weeks old.
When comparing costs, Sentinel is roughly $5 less in most retail outlets.
When it comes to side effects, Trifexis has higher chances of causing vomiting tan Sentinel. But the side effects usually depend on the dog. As such, you should only administer the drug the vet prescribes.
Trifexis vs Comfortis
Straight off the shelf the first thing that you will note is that Comfortis does not prevent heartworm disease. That is the major difference that sets it apart from Trifexis.
This is because Comfortis lacks an ingredient to combat the worms, while Trifexis come along with Milbemycin Oxime for that specific function.
But since we’re comparing the two, they are both effective in controlling flea infections, as they have the Spinosad active ingredient. In fact, Comfortis is designed specifically for killing fleas. Both products are from Elanco company.
Additionally, your dog needs to be at least 14 weeks to use Comfortis, while only 8 weeks are required for Trifexis. Both are chewable tablets administered monthly.
When it comes to cost, Trifexis consequently is priced higher at $108, while Comfortis is cheaper.
Trifexis vs Heartgard
The original Heartgard is very different from Trifexis. First, the active ingredient in Heartgard is Ivermectin, while those in Trifexis are Spinosad and Milbemycin Oxime.
But you want to know how exactly each drugs affects your dog right? Well, all this means that, while Heartgard prevents heartworm disease, it pretty much stops there.
Trifexis prevents heartworm disease, but also offers additional protection against other worms from hookworms to whipworms, save for tapeworms. In addition, while Trifexis can protect your dog from fleas, Heartgard can’t.
However, both are chewable tablets taken administered to the dog once a month.
Trifexis vs Heartgard Plus
Heartgard Plus is arguably the most flavorful oral medication for preventing heartworm disease. It’s cheaper than Trifexis, retailing at approximately $35 while Trifexis stands tall at $108. The difference can be attributed to their effectiveness.
First off, both are tablets, and are administered on a monthly basis. In addition, both are effective in preventing Heartworm disease.
However, while Trifexis additionally protects your dog from whipworms and fleas, Heartgard Plus can’t.
For your dog to be allowed to take n Heartgard Plus, it should be at least 6 weeks old, unlike Trifexis’ 8 week rule.
Of interesting note is that there is no weight requirement for Heartgard Plus, unlike for Trifexis where your dog has to be 5 lbs or more.
Trifexis vs Advantage Multi
Let’s start at the costs. Advantage Multi retails at about $93.00 while Trifexis is on the higher end, going for about $108.
They both do a great job of protecting dogs from heartworms, roundworms, whipworms and hookworms, and even fleas, but neither can protect your pooch from tapeworms. But we’re here for the heartworm disease.
For Advantage Multi, your dog needs to be 7 weeks or older in age to use it, unlike the 8 week requirement for Trifexis.
There’s not much of a difference there. So we look at the weight of the dogs, and for Advantage Multi your dog has to be a minimum of 3 lbs, which is less than the 5 lbs required for Trifexis.
While Trifexis is a chewable tablet, Advantage Multi is applied onto your dog’s skin. The two however, are given in once-a-month doses. Both drugs pack quite the punch, and you will have to get a vet’s prescription to get either of them.
Trifexis chewable tablets are best administered with food. You can however use any other method through which tablets are ingested.
However, ensure that you only use Trifexis if your vet has directed you to. It’s a powerful drug, which if used wrongly can harm your dog.
If your dog vomits within an hour or medicine administration, don’t fret. It’s a common occurrence. What you should do is re-administer the full dosage.
For pregnant or lactating dogs, do consult your vet.
