I am pretty concerned about ticks since all three of my dogs run free in fields and forests every day which are crawling with ticks – and each of them tests positive for a different tick-borne disease. So I was excited to learn that Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins — the Official Vet of Cat Chat — went to work for a company making a new topical “anti-tick potion” called Vectra 3-D. Elizabeth is one of the most honest, morally centered people I know, so I immediately had trust in the company she chose to join which makes Vectra 3-D. My dogs had not been getting protection from Frontline and I wanted to change to a product that would give me real protection — beginning with repelling the ticks so they can’t even get a chance to attach. But I was worried about the recent EPA concerns about some of these products (Frontline was mentioned where Vectra was not) and also worried whether Permethrin – the ingredient in Vectra – istopical are dangerous to the pets Dr. Elizabeth’s reply put my mind at rest enough that all of my dogs are now Vectra 3D dogs, safely running through fields of ticks that leave them alone!
Few dogs react to Permethrin, but clearly some do — just as some will react to virtually any other product. The thing about Permethrin is its potency and repellent properties for ticks especially that other popular products do not have. There is a reason that it is used to “tick-proof” soldier’s uniforms and “mosquito-proof” netting in places where ticks and other vectors are such a problem and threat to human life. Permethrin is almost always the active of choice for these purposes. In Summit’s studies, the big problem with other tick actives was potency fall-off before the end of the month. We also saw more rapid and thorough tick kill at the beginning of the month with most tick species with Vectra. We know that localized reactions are not a consistent problem, because there are many vets using it out there and we are not hearing back that 3D is causing problems other than the very occasional. As you know, the EPA has recently issued a warning about spot-ons (Vectra was not mentioned incidentally). This warning came from the numbers of adverse events reported to the EPA. Now these can range from “my dog looked at me strangely after I put the topical on him,” to “my dog had to be rushed to the vet for emergency treatment.” But the most popular topical spot-on has its share of reactions, without question. The important thing to remember is that every health care product out there, from antihistamines and laxatives to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs can (and have) caused reactions in the target species (pets, livestock and/or humans). There are no exceptions to this rule. We use these drugs anyway, despite the small amount of risk involved, when the benefit outweighs the overall risk. In the case of permethrin, its effectiveness against vectors of debilitating and even fatal human and pet diseases is so great, and the risk of serious reaction to the treated animal is so small, it is obviously an excellent active for preventing tick-transmitted diseases. The efficacy and safety studies of all of Vectra’s products are available on the company’s website atwww.summitvetpharm.com.
Tracie
Tracie
thank you for leetting me know on your last Saturadys radio show about Vectra 3D. Can you please let me know how I can contact them or have my vet contact them/
Thanks
Mark Broph?
I am having a problem with the effectiveness of Frontline even using it on my dogs every 2-3 weeks. They are still getting ticks and I don’t know where they are coming from. Would this Vectra work better? We live in S. Florida near the Atlantic Ocean and on the intracoastal waterway. One of my dogs goes to a “day care” 3 times a week for activity outside the house but the other dog stays home. I walk them in the neighborhood but don’t know any other dogs that are getting ticks. Can they contract them from rats (we have water rats) or possums who come in our yard? Please help. Thank you
Hi Kim _ I am so glad you turned to me for advice about using a newer generation topical tick repellent and killer because yours is such a good illustration of how older technology and science cannot do the job. First of all, you know you are in trouble when you find yourself using a product intended to be monthly and you are reapplying it sometimes in half that time – by its very definition, that product has failed you because you are not able to adhere to the instructions. Yet even using more Frontline than recommended after only finding ticks. How horrible! Well one thing you need to know is that Frontline has no ability to repel ticks and fleas, which is half the battle. If these parasites cannot get close to your pet then they have no chance to bite or attach – so you need the ingredient in Vectra, which keeps the ticks away. If any ticks do manage to power though the repellent action, then the Vectra will kill them off before they can transmit disease. As for fleas, that ingredient in Vectra is brand new technology which is less toxic to people or pets and more potent against all life stages of the flea – which is how they must be eliminated.
As for how your dogs are picking up the ticks, they can take a ride on all sorts of hosts and those rats could possibly be one source. But ticks are everywhere and are patient little devils. All it takes is one tick hopping onto your dog from another dog (or some tall grass) at doggy daycare and then bringing it on home to you (but well done to give him those days of fun and games with his buddies!)
What is your vet’s name and location? You can email me at dogandcatbibles@gmail.com and I will pass it along to the Vectra company so they get the product into your vet’s office – and into your hands. [I am sure your vet knows that you need to get your dogs tested before they start ANY anti-parasitic product – as well as getting the Lyme vaccination yearly. I have the leading authority on Lyme disease coming on DOG TALK May 23 and on CAT CHAT June 17 so please try to listen!
Mark – Thanks for listening and really hearing how badly we all need to protect our dogs – with Vectra being the newest generation and best protection now available. A little problem, I am discovering, is that not so many vets are carrying it yet I had to beg and plead with my own vet in Vermont to get the Vectra for my 3 dogs and luckily she did it. She even tried it on her own dog and thought the product was swell, especially the applicator that eliminates the big greasy spots on the dog’s back.
So what we’re talking about here is a “consumer movement” to ask our vets to carry a product we want for the top-of-the-line protection. You can just ask your vet but s/he may resist a new product. Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, who has taught me all about Vectra 3D – said “I must have heard 50% or more of the vets we talked to say “I want people to be asking for this product if I am going to carry it. Today, people come in asking for products all the time because every manufacturer advertises to pet owners, and I want my clients to ask for Vectra by name.” So they’ll only carry it if you ask for it – but if you ask they may say, “We don’t have it.” Sort of a circular problem.
Go to the summitvetpharm.com website (my own page on my website for Vectra’s maker, Summit Vet Pharm, is under construction). On their website you can do some reading so the information you got on DOG TALK last Saturday is reinforced. Then, all you have to do is what I did: go in or call your vet and ask if they have Vectra. If they say no, ask if they would order it for you. And if you give me the name of your vet, the company will contact him or her and explain more about the product. It will be great when we get a directory of Vectra vet hospitals up on my website so folks whose vets don’t want to get Vectra for them – or those who don’t have regular vets, will know where to go if they don’t want to argue about it. I have gotten emails from a bunch of people with requests just like yours so I say, let’s make a revolution!
Getting that snarky posting on my blog about how Vectra is nothing more than a copycat product made me want to understand better the science behind what is “new and improved” in Vectra, which I already know is the next generation of tick and flea management. I already knew that the applicator for Vectra was a monumental improvement over the clumsy little tubes of other products, which leave a greasy spot on dogs for days. Then I did a little checking and discovered that Advantix contains a 20-year-old adulticide for fleas – so it is based on decades-old research that was only able to kill the adult fleas on a dog. Instead, Vectra contains an IGR (Insect Growth regulator) against fleas, which means it eradicates the insects throughout all their life cycles, effectively eliminating them from the dog and your environment. And that doesn’t jut make it monumentally more effective, but it also happens to be less toxic to the pets and us. So there is no scientific way that Vectra isn’t better than Advantix. When I tell you something is great I believe it based on research and/or facts and experience – but that doesn’t mean I ever stop questioning and checking because I would never do anything to damage the trust I have earned from my listeners and readers.
Hi–
I’m wondering: the Vectra 3D claims it kills mosquitos that cause Heartworm. If I use it can it replace heartworm preventative medication?
Thanks–
Great question but you must ABSOLUTELY continue your heartworm medication. Vectra 3D is amazing for repelling not just ticks, fleas and mosquitoes but also sand flies and mites. However, all it takes is fro one infected mosquito to get to your dog and that horrible disease can be transmitted. So the repellent aspect of Vectra 3D is hugely important – but it not 100% effective – nothing is in medicine. So you want to cover eery possible base and every ounce of prevention you can.
Tracie,
I have a question and a comment. Above you said, “If these parasites cannot get close to your pet then they have no chance to bite or attach – so you need the ingredient in Vectra, which keeps the ticks away.” Are you suggesting that the dog has some sort of shield around it that prevents mosquitoes, ticks or flies from ever landing on your dog? If so, could you explain how this works.
No where in your post have you mentioned the danger that permethrin poses to cats. Many dog owners probably also own cats. I think it is important to make your readers aware that it is toxic and can be fatal to cats. Also, permethrin is in K9 Advantix and Bio Spot (which is an over the counter product). These products have been available for years.
I’m not suggesting that Vectra 3D does not work when used properly, but I feel the same about most flea and tick products. I just want to make sure everyone understands the entire picture.