If you know that your dog doesn't have heartworm, you can use Revolution. It is a topical like Frontline. It protects against fleas, ticks, and heartworms. We have used it in the past when we didn't have to use monthly heartworm meds, and we were going on a trip to an area where there was heartworm. The vet says it works well for heartworm. That would also give you flea and tick protection so you'd only have to spend money on one product. Don't know if they have that product in Australia.

Here's the Revolution website http://www.revolution4dogs.com/

Thank you Mathew and Connie,
I stand corrected on the reasonableness of the yearly exam for heartworm.
For some reason last night I got it through my head the DVM assoc. had become completely amoral. My apologies to the Assoc. of DVM's.
It's likely I've just never noticed it because it's just part of the yearly exam that's part of owning a dog. As well as it's not the problem in this parts (yet) as it is in the warmer climes many of you live in.

Stephanie, talk to your vet about the monies you're in arrears. Avoidance is one of the worse things to do to the business community, if they can't cover the cost of opening the door every morning they can't help anyone.
Talk to them, make arrangements for monthly payments so you can clear the books, then next time you need their services they'll know you're good for it, otherwise you won't have any help when needed.

Deb,
No one suggested meds from whatever country was inferior, only that ordering on line one has really no idea where they're coming from or if the meds are what purported to be.
For me it's all sketchy enough anyways, I don't need adding some mystery source into the mix.

Good luck in working it out with your vet Stephanie.
Randy

What I am going to do is pay the bill off then get one month I buy the huge frontline and get four months out of one tube not a issue with frontline. And its over the counter my friend at his mom and pop shop can get me frontline.

My vet only sell six month doses for dogs over 1 year I think she does not want a bunch of up opened boxes I don't know. I normally get the test at the spay and nueter clinic with is the discount clinic then take the paper to my vet.
Her test and office visit run 40 for the test 35 for the office visit.
The clinic is 15 for the visit 20 for the test.
Anyway the clinic will give me one month of the off brand but the only thing I am worried about is the colly in phoenix.
That why I do heartguard. Its safe for collys.

but I am going to do that I need my bill at the spay and nueter clinic down cause I take ferel cats in 2 times a month to get fixed. And I have a mamma cat foster now that I need to be able to get fixed for free. And her kittens

I also wanted to add I understand why they do it in southern texas you miss a month and your dog probally has heartworms. I got bites from mosiquitos in dec and jan.
And especially after the hurricane its been horrible down here.

 Quote: Stephanie St Julian

the only thing I am worried about is the colly in phoenix.
That why I do heartguard. Its safe for collys.

This may be beside the point but I'm going to mention it anyway, since you've brought it up.

The active ingredient in HeartGard is ivermectin, which some herding breeds...like collies...can be sensitive to.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=31&A=518&S=0

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/collies.html#smp


Now they do say that even ivermectin-sensitive dogs aren't generally affected by the low dose found in HeartGard. But if you are concerned, Interceptor is the HWP you'd want to use.

http://www.interceptor.novartis.us/dog/en/about.shtml

http://www.colliehealth.org/ivermectin.html

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/606_pets.html

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/123/RipOff0123257.htm

 Quote: Sarah Morris

 Quote: Stephanie St Julian

the only thing I am worried about is the colly in phoenix.
That why I do heartguard. Its safe for collys.

This may be beside the point but I'm going to mention it anyway, since you've brought it up.

The active ingredient in HeartGard is ivermectin, which some herding breeds...like collies...can be sensitive to.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=31&A=518&S=0

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/collies.html#smp


Now they do say that even ivermectin-sensitive dogs aren't generally affected by the low dose found in HeartGard. But if you are concerned, Interceptor is the HWP you'd want to use.

http://www.interceptor.novartis.us/dog/en/about.shtml

http://www.colliehealth.org/ivermectin.html

Thanks I never really under stood the whole thing and I have been looking for something like that for over a year.

I am going to get it from my vet to many things say it ok and to many dont.
You would really have to have it sent to some kind of lab and have the ingredients tested which for my dog is not worth it.

I have already lost one and wont loose another. Do to me trying to be cheap. I am not going to pay my full cell phone bill and get this done right and hope they dont cut my phone but phoenix is more important at this point.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/606_pets.html

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/123/RipOff0123257.htm

I've known about PetMeds for a long time. Our hospital wouldn't deal directly with them. You do have to be careful about online pharmacies. I've seen the counterfeit product and it is extremely difficult to tell the real thing from the fake.

Same goes for big box pet stores that sell Frontline and Advantage. As of 2 years ago, Bayer and Merial did not directly sell their products to, or guarantee the product sold by, PetSmart, PetCo, etc.

Vetcentric is one online pharmacy that IS reputable and where (as of 2 years ago) the medications sold are guaranteed by the drug manufacturers:

https://www.vetcentric.com/about/aboutUs.cfm

And as Connie mentioned, most vets will match online pharmacy prices.

My vet is also competitive with online prices. I always buy from the vet.

Especially after I saw the expose on TV about fake drugs from China and Mexico. They even say they are made here and are very, very convincing.

This is with human drugs, so I certainly wouldn't trust animal drugs from online pharm.

Good luck.