FYI Trifexis is apparently causing deaths but not proved yet

[3ChocMom]

I won't use Trifexis or Comfortis. I'm not a big fan of topicals either, and use them as sparingly as I can, but I'm more comfortable with them than something that is taken orally. Even CapStar, as well as it works, makes me uncomfortable and I don't use that unless a dog is absolutely running with fleas (never my own dogs, usually my fosters).

Also, I don't like combination HW/flea preventives. I like to only use flea preventive as needed and HW prevention must be given every month where I live.

That said, there are plenty of options. I use Heartgard for HW prevention. I've used Frontline for years, although I think I have found a way to stop using it. My Lily has a flea allergy and goes absolutely bonkers itching if she even gets one flea bite. Through trial and error (which took me close to a year), I have been able to keep her flea and itch free with the following regimen. I spray a natural product called Flea Flicker, Tick Kicker on her once a week and brush it through her coat. I also use a natural flea shampoo called Charlie Dog, put it in a spray bottle diluted with water, and spray it on her legs before she goes outside, every time. I haven't seen a flea on her in at least 2 months doing this and I check her at least twice a day. It's been at least 3 months since I last applied Frontline.

[shellbell]

I’m not a fan of combo products either, that is just too much to be throwing at a dog all at once, IMO. I absolutely give Heartguard every month for HW prevention. As much as I HATE using topicals, I have been using Frontline this summer since ticks are just super bad this year. I held off as long as I could, but when we came home from our property and I had ticks in my bed and crawling on my walls, and after also pulling several off the dogs, I caved and applied it. The natural sprays do not work for the ticks where we go, I’ve tried. And I already have one dog positive for tick disease. I’ve used it three times this summer, just applied it a week ago and I am hoping that is the last time until next spring. The ticks seem to be not as bad as they were a couple months ago. Last summer I only had to apply Frontline one time, not for ticks but for fleas, after I found them on Cabo.

And the Trifexis death stories have been circling the internet for at least a year now, but apparently there is not enough evidence for them to pull it or for the FDA to do anything.

[Lainie]

Jessie has been on Revolution all her life. She hates it, it stings, I hate it because it is an insecticide. We used Trifexis one year but I went back to Revolution because our vet says since we live on a beach, it covers everything under the sun. That alone scares the yimminies outta me, but we've had flea problems in the past & its nasty. So wish there was a better way.

[SCDoug]

Trifexis death stories have been circling the internet for at least a year now, but apparently there is not enough evidence for them to pull it or for the FDA to do anything.

Some additional info from Snopes regarding the Trifexis stories.

snopes.com: Trifexis Kills Dogs?

[Berna]

Some additional info from Snopes regarding the Trifexis stories.

snopes.com: Trifexis Kills Dogs?

I've heard this type of stories many times, literally with every drug you can think of, the most common example being Rymadil. Some dogs have a reaction, for many reasons. Some dogs do just fine. I can't help but think that there was an underlying issue that caused the deaths of the vizla puppies, Trifexis being a trigger.

[fidgetyknees]

Agreed. But after reading this and knowing my dogs are fine on Frontline plus, and heartgard there is no way I would chance whether the rumors are true.

Plus I have had a dog die from Rimadyl so I don't like anything which has a safer alternative. She died like the Ebola people die, hemoraged everywhere.