Ronda Reisdorph
I found this website after it was too late...I am so sad to say that we had to have our 8 year old German shepherd put down 2 weeks ago due to Trifexis. We moved to Hawaii in September with 3 healthy, beautiful dogs. After the first dose of trifexis my dog's hocks swelled and filled with fluid. We took her to the vet where they did not know what was wrong but thought it could be an autoimmune disease that would cost $700 to diagnose? We said that we just wanted to treat the symptoms for now....they gave her high dose prednisone. The swelling was better but she developed a slight limp. When we gave her the next dose of Trifexis she swelled again although not immediately and the limp grew worse. I took her to the vet where they x-rayed her and said her gallbladder was swollen and again that she might have some autoimmune disease. All her chemistries were normal. I questioned the vet about Trifexis and was told that it only caused vomiting and diarrhea and since she did not have any of these if was not that. We continued with the prednisone which had other side effects like incontinence so I weaned her off of them down to 1/2 tablet once a day. I forgot to give the Trifexis dose on time and it was 6 weeks since the last dose...she was feeling better but had a permanent limp. The swelling had returned to normal and then I did the unthinkable...I gave them their Trifexis on a Thursday morning. The next morning she could not even support her weight and her joints were hugely swollen. I KNEW !! I took her to the vet on Saturday barely able to walk at all and in a lot of pain. I had to carry her in to the office. The vet diagnosed her with a completely severed ACL in one knee and partially severed in the other. We were devastated...I reported to him about Trifexis causing all this in my dog. He said that he reported it to the company but I never received a phone call from the manufacturer. I asked if we could wait a week to see if she improved with prednisone, tramadol and gabapentin. The next Saturday I took her back and we all held her while they put her to sleep...she was suffering and I could not put her through anymore. We still have our 2 miniature schnauzers but I am afraid to put them on any heart worm medicine. I pray that they will be ok...I need a solution and do not want to put them on drugs that could kill them. They are promoting Trifexis to everyone even after watching my dog die. What an insane world we live in when the people and drug manufacturers who are supposed to protect our beloved pets kill them to protect the $$ they are making while turning a blind eye to our suffering!