Need some veterinary advice, please

[TheCentepedeShoes]

This morning I caught the very tail of the creepy-crawley on CNN where it said something about the FDA and the ProHeart 6 heartworm shots being responsible for about 500 pet deaths. I had to leave for class so I asked my husband to watch for it, but when I got back he hadn't seen it again. My poodle gets the ProHeart 3.4mg/ml SQx (that's how it reads on the invoice) twice a year. Is there a problem with just ProHeart 6 (and what's the difference from the 3.4 ?)or with the shots in general? He's due for his next shot in October. We'll talk with the clinic about it before then, but have any of you had bad experiences with the shots?
PS: The dog said he'd like to go back to the cookies.:-)

[mike_c]

1. FDA recalls popular heartworm drug for dogs

Medicine linked to thousands of injuries, deaths

WASHINGTON - ProHeart 6, a twice-a-year time-released heartworm medication used to treat millions of dogs, was recalled Friday at the request of the Food and Drug Administration after thousands of animals suffered adverse reactions.

ProHeart 6 was the first, and only, product approved by the FDA to be administered once every six months to treat heartworm disease in dogs. Its active ingredient, moxidectin, has been administered without problem to horses and cattle.

The time-released version caused few problems when given to dogs at higher doses in clinical trials. Health and safety problems quickly cropped up, however, when ProHeart 6 was used to treat dogs after receiving FDA approval.

<more>

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5908836/

[Crazy8s]

2. According to AP Article

the ingredient in ProHeart affects dogs of all sizes and ages, and they're not certain exactly why. Only discusses ProHeart 6, but named the active ingredient, moxidectin, as the culprit. I'm not happy about it, cos I find 2 shots a year much easier (and cheaper) than the monthly treat. My dogs are due for their next shots in October as well.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

4. Thanks for the replies

Looks like my big guy's gonna get his treats back.

[Soloflecks]

3. No problems, but...

I got the shots for all 5 of mine last year, and none had any problems. After hearing about this, however, I went back to the oral type. Didn't want to take the chance.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

5. That's what we've decided, too

I asked in my original post if there was a diff between the 6 and the 3.4, thinking it was the dosage. Well, I guess (DUH!) the "6" just means every 6 months.

[radwriter0555]

6. My vet OPPOSES VACCINATIONS.

This is why I love this woman.

I have 3 dogs. They NEVER go out. Ever. They're house and home dogs, they don't socialise. They're never around other dogs and don't go out in public. They got a series of shots when we got them from the pound and that's enough for a couple of years.

Heck my lil winky isn't even fixed (maltese). The other two are.

My vet says that in our case, vaccinations do more harm than good... she just 'gets' it.

She's treating my lil Winky for a broken leg right now, we have several more months... what I love is that she didn't rush her into surgery. We're letting nature take its course.

Dr. Kate is here in Los Angeles if anyone needs the best non-corporate vet on the planet.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

7. Hope your

lil Winky recovers OK. :hi:

[sleepyhead]

8. I've used ProHeart for years without a problem

But I am switching all my patients to Heartgard or Interceptor until this situation is resolved. If your dog is OK at this point, he will most likely be fine, but the safest thing to do is to switch back to the oral monthly preventative. The oral meds have more efficacy against intestinal parasites anyway.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

9. October would be his fourth shot

but I think we'll go back to Heartgard. Didn't know about the better intestinal parasite protection. Thanks !!