Advantage Multi

[Doc & Nash]

This product has a 90% absorbtion rate after 30 minutes, and a 99% absorbtion after 24 hrs. I typically apply it when I get home from work, seperate the dogs for one hour. and then If rain is forcasted I will keep them inside for the remainder of the 24 hrs. Typically the rain issue is not a problem.

[rsm688]

This product has a 90% absorbtion rate after 30 minutes, and a 99% absorbtion after 24 hrs. I typically apply it when I get home from work, seperate the dogs for one hour. and then If rain is forcasted I will keep them inside for the remainder of the 24 hrs. Typically the rain issue is not a problem.

x2, my vet....Dr. Payne, said give it 24 hrs before bath or water work.


-spencer-

[bdb133]

Well I live in Northern MS and ALOT of dogs in my immediate area are coming down with heartworms thus I was afraid mine had them because he is on just heartgard. Luckily he hasn't i've had great results for two years with no heartworms. Makes me wonder if there aren't more factors in play other than just the product itself not working. May have something to do with the dogs physical traits even.

[Drakeshead]

It contains Ivermect that will kill the microfilaria(immature heartworms).

Bayer Advantix Multi uses Moxidectin, not Ivermec.

What is moxidectin, and how does it work?

Moxidectin is an active ingredient found in products given to animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, and cattle, for the prevention, treatment and / or control of common internal and external parasites, such as heartworms. Products with moxidectin come in different forms, including orals, topical solutions, and injectables. Talk to your veterinarian about what treatment is best for your pet and how to use it correctly.
Moxidectin works by selectively binding to high affinity glutamate-gated chloride ion channels and agonist activity at GABA complexes, which are critical to the function of invertebrate nerve and muscle cells. This interferes with the parasite's neurotransmission, resulting in its paralysis and ultimately death.

What are side effects seen in products using moxidectin?

Side effects of moxidectin vary by animal, and may be affected by how the product is formulated, how it is applied, and the dosage used.
Studies of moxidectin's side effects in dogs show that some may experience lethargy, inappetence or anorexia, adipsia, emesis, dyspnea and facial edema, hypothermia, and sensitivity and cutaneous lesions at the site of the moxidectin application (nodule, crusts and purulent exudate).1 Overdoses of moxidectin in dogs may result in dysorexia, sialorrhea, mydriasis, and fasciculations and ataxia of the pelvic limbs.1 In avermectin-sensitive dogs, reactions may be more severe and may include coma and death.
Canine treatments containing moxidectin may be administered as a topical, oral or injectable. It's important that you give the exact dose your veterinarian recommends and apply it as it is stated on the label. If you are ever unsure, ask your veterinarian to show you how to apply the treatment.
Moxidectin is also used in products to treat horses for large and small strongyles, encysted cyathostomes, ascarids, pinworms, hair worms, large-mouth stomach worms, and horse stomach bots. Data shows that horses less than six months of age who are treated with those products have a higher incidence of adverse reactions, including ataxia, apparent depression/lethargy, and recumbency.2
Cattle and sheep receiving an injectable solution at three times the therapeutic dose may experience some transitory nervous symptoms.

What does avermectin sensitivity mean, and what are its symptoms, causes, and prognosis?

Some herding dog breeds (e.g., collies) may have a mutation to their MDR1 gene that can result in higher levels of certain drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier into the pet’s central nervous system. This condition applies, in theory, to avermectins, the treatment most commonly used for the prevention of heartworm disease. If an avermectin sensitive dog were to inappropriately orally receive a high level of an avermectin such as moxidectin, an adverse reaction could result, but when administered as directed, avermectins are safe for avermectin-sensitive dogs even at levels greater than their prescribed dosages.
If your dog is avermectin-sensitive, talk to your veterinarian about your heartworm disease preventative options. To find a list of drugs and learn about an avermectin sensitivity test now available, go to http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/#Drugs.

What products currently have moxidectin in them?

Advocate® for Dogs (Not for sale in the U.S.)
Advocate® for Cats (Not for sale in the U.S.)
ProHeart®6, manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health (for sale in Canada and Japan)
ProHeart®12, manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health (for sale in Australia)
CYDECTIN® for cattle and sheep, manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health
QUEST® Gel, for horses, manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health
Advantage Multi™ for Dogs, (imidacloprid + moxidectin) Topical Solution, manufactured by Bayer Animal Health
Advantage Multi™ for Cats, (imidacloprid + moxidectin) Topical Solution, manufactured by Bayer Animal Health

How do I report an adverse reaction in my pet?

Report any problems with veterinary drugs and devices for animals to your veterinarian, the drug manufacturer and the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine at 1-888-FDA-VETS (1-888-332-8387). Go to http://www.fda.gov/cvm/adereporting.htm for the FDA's reporting form.

How does the FDA evaluate products with moxidectin?

Depending upon the specific ingredients, products used to prevent, treat and/or control external and/or internal parasites must be approved either by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Manufacturers of these products must submit extensive preclinical and clinical data supporting the safety and efficacy of these treatments. The federal regulatory agencies extensively evaluate the data, weighing the benefits vs. risks, before approving a treatment. Regulatory agency monitoring does not end at approval; they continue to monitor the safety of the treatment for the entire time it is on the market.

Since ProHeart 6 was voluntarily withdrawn from the market, why does the FDA allow other drugs with moxidectin to remain?

Working with the FDA, a decision was made by Fort Dodge to voluntarily withdraw ProHeart 6 from the market. Subsequent evaluation of a link between the product and reports of adverse events by both the FDA and the manufacturer proved inconclusive. ProHeart 6 remains on the market in Canada and Japan, and as ProHeart 12 in Australia.
It is important to recognize that even though moxidectin is an active ingredient in ProHeart 6, the other products currently on the market with moxidectin are completely different based on their formulations and routes of administration. Prior to being sold in the United States, any animal health product, including those with moxidectin, must go through a rigorous review by regulatory agencies and continue to be evaluated for safety even after they are approved.

[Drakeshead]

Makes me wonder if there aren't more factors in play other than just the product itself not working.

I am thinking that heartworms are adapting the Ivermec or atleast the amount of Ivermec that is being used in Heartguard medication. Ivermec has a very short half-life, so if the adult female heartworm can make it through the first 48 hours after treatment, she is good to go for the next month.

[bdb133]

yeah. that sounds like a better point to be focusing on.

[Doc & Nash]

Makes me wonder if there aren't more factors in play other than just the product itself not working.

I am thinking that heartworms are adapting the Ivermec or atleast the amount of Ivermec that is being used in Heartguard medication. Ivermec has a very short half-life, so if the adult female heartworm can make it through the first 48 hours after treatment, she is good to go for the next month.

The dosage if ivermectin in Heartguard is so low that if a collie that suffered from avermectin sensitivity accidently ate the 6 month supply it would not kill them. I think it is as simple as the dosage they are offering is not large enought to be effective over such a short period of time.

[bdb133]

Sorry for the lack of research i've done but I didn't realize the dosage was THAT low. I mean it seems like they couldn't even market that. And how is it having ANY successful results if the dosage is that small. I know it's not due to lack of mosqitoes.

[rebelduckaholic]

I went back in the other day and had another check up while getting the hips x rayed and came back negative again. I really can't add much to what has been said but it worked for my dog

[Doc & Nash]

I went back in the other day and had another check up while getting the hips x rayed and came back negative again. I really can't add much to what has been said but it worked for my dog

Glad she came back negative, I remember you being at West MS and being worried about her having to go thru the treatment.

What type of test did they run?

I would recommend that you have the blood smear test done if you have not. It actually makes someone look at it. and see if there are any segments (pieces of dead heartworms) in the blood.

[rebelduckaholic]

They ran the blood test

[Bayou Beagle]

They ran the blood test

Were they able to do an xray and look for adult HW in artery around heart? This is normally the way they can estimate the level of HW....level 1,2.3,4

[Doc & Nash]

They ran the blood test

There are two blood test, the first is where they pull the blood and test it for the antigen. The second is where they use the blood pulled and make a slide to view under the microscope.

[chance]

I got concerned about the statement that Ivermectin would kill L6 stage heartworms(adults). I called the 800 number for Advantage Multi and spoke with one of their vets. Here is what she said....
The chemical used in Advantage Multi will not kill adult heartworms. If adult heartworms are present, then using Advantage Multi can only prevent further infestation. The claim that Advantage Multi was interfering in heartworm detection was explained by. "You either have a false positive test or a false negative test".
My vet in Grenada doses once a month with Heartgard and follows up two weeks later with Advantage Multi. Explanation was, "Heartgard does lose strenght as time passes. I would not take a chance with my dogs whether that strength loss was too much or not". I was also told by my vet that if Heartgard were to lose that much strength in 48 hours, it would have never been approved by the FDA. It would be essentially useless in the prevention of heartworm infestation.
The vet here in Grenada is still insisting that Advantage Multi is interfering with testing for heartworms. The belief is that the ingredients in Advantage Multi are prohibiting the female heartworms from producing the antigen that is detected in the host's blood stream. Maybe, even to the point of, rendering the female heartworm, sterile.
Adult heartworms can be as long as 12". The treatment to kill them is not harmful to the host. Pieces of dead heartworms traveling to the lungs of the host and forming pulmonary embolisms can be harmful, up and unto death, for the host. For this reason, I would be VERY concerned if I believed Advantage Multi were killing the heartworms in my dogs under less than a strictly controlled environment.
There are several instances of dogs being diagnosed with heartworms, later to be shown clear of them, after dosing for a time with Advantage Multi. You may never have any problems with your dogs being infected. Seems as if there is no clear answer as to how long these things live in our dogs. I advise you guys ot find out as much as you can about heartworms. Call the 800 numbers for both Heargard and Advantage Multi. There is a website for the Heartworm Society. Check it out.

[pstone]

That's intresting Glen. I know when Buck tested pos we did a chest x-rax and it showed some inflamation to one side of his heart. If the guys that got neg after testing pos and no treatment got x-rayed, they could know for sure...whether they got a false pos, or a false neg. Sounds like we need to develop another test!