Comments on The Great Trifexis Hoax: 6 Ways to Spot the B.S.

I just got my Schnoodle Chihuahua a couple weeks ago, and I just brought him into the vet the other day where the vet gave me a free first dose of Trifexis to give him. I haven't given it to him yet and after everything that I've seen online I don't think I will. There's got to be a safer way to protect my dog from heart worm than putting poisons into his little 5 pound body.

OMG! I give Trifexis to my 2 dogs, I haven't give them their pills this months yet, and after reading this I'm not giving it anymore! ( they been on it a year) no problems yet but don't want to to take a chance with it! my vet put them on it because of round worm's we have them in the ground where I live at and they almost killed my Akita, now to find something for the worms & flea's thank you

I just started my 4 year old Soft coated wheaten terrier on Trifexis 6 months ago and he started having these nervous ticks as described above. Immediately after I gave him his last 6 month pill, he started vomiting all over the house. Then for no apparent reason, the nervous ticks started. He was running all over the house like a mad dog. He would jump up from a deep sleep three feet in the air and take off running. I called the Elanco Company to report it and told them I had a vet appointment the same day. Elanco called my Vet three times to get a report. If their products are so safe, why should they be at all concerned? Why do the Vets protect them and do not inform the customer about these serious drug interactions?

In 2009 I adopted a 7 year old, heart worm positive boxer with a broken hip from my local SPCA after seeing him on the euthanasia list for the day. At the time I worked at a speciality veterinary hospital and King was referred to radiology for radiographs, an echo, and then to internal medicine for complete labs and a fecal for his reported diarrhea (the SPCA's listed cause for his euthanasia). Aside from being about 35# underweight, slight changes in his heart secondary to heart worm infection and his shattered hip, everything was normal. The internal medicine specialist had me give him heartgard for 2 months, he was checked for microfilaria, and when negative, started on Trifexis and doxycycline as treatment. Within 3 months he would have episodes of vomiting (bile and undigested food), and intermittent diarrhea despite a grain free hypoallergenic diet his acupuncturist designed. Lab work at 6 months and repeat echo showed King had elevated ALT levels (twice normal), was only a light heartworm positive, and had a drastically decreased worm burden. At 9 months he had protein in his urine, ALP was elevated, and he was heartworm negative. At a year, the vomiting was so frequent, and a repeat echo revealed no heartworms, while an abdominal ultrasound showed a slightly enlarged liver, so the Trifexis was stopped and he was started back on heartgard. He had regular lab work every 6 months, and volunteered to teach several local vets how to perform ultrasounds, and after 3 months off Trifexis his ALP was normal and ALT was decreased. His vomiting drastically decreased. At 6 months, all of his lab values were normal and his liver size returned to pre-Trifexis size. Up until his passing at 14 from a mediastinal mass and hypercalcemia, his liver values never tested abnormally again and he never had Trifexis again. My other boxer was tried on Trifexis and had sever hypersensitivity. Sentinel caused hives, facial and limb swelling, and now after she developed cancer, even ivermectin causes neurological issues (high stepping, bumping into things, saw horse stance). I've seen countless patients in the clinic on Trifexis with elevated liver values, and you have to wonder how toxic this medication is that it insults the liver and damages it enough to raise the values? And even more reports of vomiting come in. When clients ask me how I feel about a medication causing vomiting, I can't help but tell them it sounds like it's time to find something safer for their pet that doesn't cause negative symptoms. I'm curious and worried to see how all the new flea products like Bravecto and Activyl are going to affect animals. I'm too scared to give something like Bravecto or Proheart that stay in the system for months. Kudos to all the pet parents brave enough to speak up and tell their vets that they won't be giving medications with damaging side effects to their fur babies.

Our12 year old Westie had his second dose of Trifexis one week ago. The last five days he has been lethargic and sleeps a lot. Not at all like him. The vet discovered an irregular heart beat, something he did not have in March of this year. Had EKG and also blood work. Blood tests are all perfect.
Is there an antidote you would recommend for the Trifexis? I have read some things on the internet regarding liquid dandelion and milk thistle for a detox. Any thoughts?
Thank you in advance.

I do not believe the post-approval adverse reactions for Trifexis cited on package inserts are credible based on the following: On the abbreviated Trifexis package inserts printed in the JAVMA magazine, Vol 244, No. 4, February 15, 2014, and in the Veterinary Medicine|dvm360.com magazine, May 2013, it states the following: "Post-Approval Experience (March 2012):". (i.e. implying that the post-approval adverse reactions are based on data up to/including March 2012) The production date at the bottom of these same Trifexis package inserts is
"(V02-06-2012)". According to numerous pre-press proofs from Matthews Brand Solutions, an art production studio that works for Eli Lilly/Elanco, "(V02-06-2012)" is their "Text Approval Code" for final artwork to be printed. This indicates the text on these Trifexis package inserts was written and approved by February 6, 2012, which is BEFORE March 2012. I wonder if this means the rest of the data cited on these package inserts could also be a work of fiction?

*Repost from March 22, since I didn't get a reply to my original message*
I never realized Trifexis could be so dangerous, but now it makes more sense. We lost our Gunny, a beautiful Red Bone Coon Hound/Lab mix almost a year ago exactly. He was only four and a half. He began having seizures about a year or so before he died, not long after we started Trifexis. My concern now is for our Lily, Bowie, and Phoebe. Lily is almost two and has had at least a year’s worth of Trifexis. The other two are pups and have had only one dose. How do we know if Lily has been harmed by it. She and the pups (not her pups) do not show any adverse reactions. How can we tell if damage has been done? Please respond.

My dog was given trifexis as a puppy and was okay with it in the beginning. But when we increased dose, he would be so lethargic and drugged. Throwing up, diahrea. I took him to the vet everytime. And they said it couldn't be the trifexis. I changed vet and they switched him to another brand, I forget the name now. And he hasn't been sick anymore.

Well... I'll jump in since I see your comments section is still actively flowing nearly 2 years after your post.
My family just brought home pup. We haven't owned a dog before, so a lot of this is new for us. We selected a vet. Seems good enough. They do the normal exam, tell us we have a good dog, etc etc.. (he's a thriving energetic puppy, of course he's good...)
We are getting his boosters for parvo, just got his rabies vaccine. I'm okay with all this.
On the 2nd visit the doc offered a free Trifexis booster. Told us not to give it for a couple days because he just had his booster and it may make him sick if its too close together. 2 things, first, I'm lazy and forgot to give it to him, second, I believe in not giving my pets anything I wouldn't take... and upon further inspection, wow, would I not take this.
So here I am about a month later, just had a follow up visit. The vet asks if I want to get my next month of Trifexis from them... (in my head I'm thinking, oops, do I tell them I forgot), then I ask, how much... $25. $25, wow! My follow up question, naturally, how often do I have to give this to my dog.... well, every month for the rest of his life sir. I laughed, then I got motivated to figure out what this was all about.
Naturally google searches led me here, and I'm glad it did. I just threw out the free sample I was given and I'll be exploring more organic methods of raising a healthy dog.
Btw... the thought crosses my mind as I read all this. How did dogs survive without heartworm or flea medicines in the wild? (meant to be a sarcastic rhetorical question...)
If you couldn't tell by now, this is just a thank you comment. To you and to all the folks who shared their stories. Nothing like first hand accounts to help sift through what the manufacturers wont share.

Hello Doctor & Everyone!
What about not treating for heart worm or parasites and just paying for a comprehensive lab test every 6 months?
I am located in southern California, a relatively low-occurrence heart worm area.
Is it true by doing this we could not only avoid using drugs, but if heart worm is actually detected, within the six month time-frame the worms would be very small and easily treatable?
Interested in your thoughts as this might be a viable option for many owners.
Thanks from San Diego!

I never realized Trifexis could be so dangerous, but now it makes more sense. We lost our Gunny, a beautiful Red Bone Coon Hound/Lab mix almost a year ago exactly. He was only four and a half. He began having seizures about a year or so before he died, not long after we started Trifexis. My concern now is for our Lily, Bowie, and Phoebe. Lily is almost two and has had at least a year's worth of Trifexis. The other two are pups and have had only one dose. How do we know if Lily has been harmed by it. She and the pups (not her pups) do not show any adverse reactions. How can we tell if damage has been done? Please respond.

you want to detect bs, start at the top of this article and dont stop until reach the bottom. I raise dogs, all my family have dogs, we started with comfortis and now use trifexis because it works wonders. No side effects, no fleas, no ticks, no worms. Are there certain dogs that will have a problem with it ...yes.......JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER MEDICINE......10s of millions of doses and 700 documented deaths, thats safer than asperin. And thats just dogs, the active ingredient is used for many other animals. If your dog dont tolerate it well, dont give it to them......but dont denigrate a wonderful product because of your all natural prdjuduces......thanks for my chance to rant.......john

Yes, my first assumption was the same. However, there are three factors that led me to think more optimistically. For one, if she were a diverter, it would be very easy to track her down through the lot #s etc.. Secondly, she appears to have been the lead vet tech at the Humane Society in Memphis and volunteered at free spay clinics. And thirdly, she appears to now be involved with a German Shepherd rescue initiative in another state. My mission is truth. I have no interest in profiting from my dog's death.

I lost my beautiful Samoyed dog in June 2013 here in Canada after being prescribed Trifexis, and have been on a mission ever since.
I just found the following document from the Nashville, TN veterinary board dated December 2014. Here is the link:

Here is the relevant excerpt:
"Consent Order – Amy Keller, L.V.T.
Ms. Keller was not present and was not represented by counsel. Mr. Keith Hodges, Assistant General Counsel, presented the Consent Order to the Board for ratification. Ms. Keller stole Trifexis worth over fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) from her employer. She pled guilty to Theft of Property worth between $10,000 and $60,000, a Class C felony, in Shelby County Criminal Court. Ms. Keller agreed to voluntarily surrender her license to practice as a veterinary technician and to pay costs of the proceedings. Dr. Galloway made a motion, seconded by Dr. Federico, to accept the Consent Order. The motion carried."
One has to wonder why a vet tech would risk her career and a criminal record to steal $15,000.00 worth of Trifexis from her employer unless she was trying to make a point and save some dogs' lives, perhaps based on what she saw on the job? Hopefully that is the case.
Also, Trifexis was launched in the U.S. two weeks after Assurity for cats in January 2011. (both Elanco products) Assurity contained spinetoram pesticide and was also blamed for cat injuries, illnesses and deaths. U.S. EPA labels for Assurity indicate that it (and now Cheristin for Cats) was/is commercially manufactured in Canada. I wonder is Trifexis is as well?

Original article is completely one sided with no scientific basis or facts, just testimony and heresay, which is NOT scientific research. 700 dogs from 70 million doses = 0.00001%, which is probably about the percentage of dogs that have undiagnosed serious conditions, such as brain tumors or leukemia. Yes the flea treatment probably puts an initial strain on the dogs immune system which could cause these conditions to now become apparent. Because the timing coincides with the administration of the flea treatment, the conclusion is that the flea treatment is the cause, which may not necessarily be the case.

I was willing to read but you lost me "vaccine-induced autism."

Well, I just bought trifexis form my Vet in Israel.
The Flees which nothing could get rid of are gone! no apparent side effects and my dog seem to be happy as ever just without scratching herself. also my parents dog is fine.
Both dogs weight about 20 kg and of the Canaanite breed (Mix)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan_Dog)
My vet did tell me you cant give the pill with the Worm treatment which i have to give my dogs every three months.. could be the problem who caused all the incidents mentioned in your article.
The pill can only be given by the vet which makes it a bit more expensive, but the dogs are being kept under the care of the vet.

I lost my perfectly healthy 11 yr old Airedale terrier Nov.14th. She had symptoms of eating something that inflamed her intestines. After month of a bland diet she slept all the time.took to local animal hospital treated for inflamed intestines and possible pnemonia. she was very anemic , refused to eat or drink. vets monitored blood 4 days in row blood count never changed. didn't want to walk and looked up at sky and leaned both to left and right. hospital recommended she see internist drove 4 hours to see one. sonigram came back fine told us to check back in a week. drove 4 hours home and she passed away when we backed into driveway. she had been on Trifexis for at least 3 years

Within a week of Waggles annual exam and the vet recommending a switch to Trifexis, my little guy had blisters on his face, nose, lips, around his eyes. He was given a shot of steroids (didn't help.) A biopsy was done, no problems. His bloodwork came back with his liver enzymes at 3600 (normal is 100.) His organs, including skin, began to turn to mush. He went blind, his toenails dissolved, his penis literally fell off!!! His anus was oozing. I called (got an answering machine), e-mailed and none of my requests for an anecdote were answered. His hearing was going. I had to end his suffering and the ONLY thing I did different was POISON him with Trifexis!!! I'll never believe it wasn't anything but that poison Elanco is passing off... make a quick multi-million, then pull it off the shelves when they are forced to. My baby died from Trifexis. I have the pictures to prove his disintegration from the day before he took it to the week I had to force myself to end the misery and suffering.

I adopted my little buddy in 2012, mix breed. I had him for 3 months before my vet put him on trifexis. He did not have any seziures during ther first 3 months i had him. 2 months after starting this med. he started to have seziures. The vet could find no reason for them and said to keep an eye on him. He has seziures now minimum of once a month! I regreat ever putting him on this stuff!