Interceptor and Panacur

Delphinus · #1 01-19-2006, 02:20 AM

I need both of the above. The Panacur is a heartworm medication that can be used to treat hydroids; the Interceptor for the red bugs. (I don't know if I have red bugs, but I figure if I have to get a vet script for the Panacur I might as well try to get some Interceptor while I'm at it.)

Haven't had a whole lot of luck with the vets yet, most are unwilling to prescribe something without you taking in an animal for examination and since you can't take in an aquarium I'm not having a lot of luck.

Calgary North vet clinic is willing to let me come in and show them the documentation I have before deciding to decline, at least.

But has anyone tried this already and had any luck? What vet did you use, and do you possibly have any of either left over?

I did talk to the vet that eposer used for Interceptor in the past, but after thinking about it, they decided not to help me. So I'm still stuck at the moment.

JSTR · #2 01-19-2006, 04:10 AM

Tony,

Be careful with panacur as it will kill hydroids but is also supposed to be harmful to all worms and most inverts like snails. Never used it myself, as the one tank I have that I would think of using it in is a sterile tank (knock on wood) no hydroids. All the research I did into panacur, has led me to believe its good but needs careful attention (I'm sure you have looked into this already). If you run out of luck with the local vets, take a gander at seahorse.org, there are a few online places you can order it from.

Just out of curiousity, what are you keeping, that has you afraid the hydroids will harm them. Most animals are not affected by them.

HTH

BMW Rider · #3 01-19-2006, 04:13 AM

I'm getting the same run around from the vets on the Interceptor. i'm going to try the NC Vet Clinic tommorrow and see what they say.

Xtasia · #4 01-19-2006, 04:44 AM

lemme know i can pop some in the mail worst case tony.

-willow using a stollen account

Delphinus · #5 01-19-2006, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSTR

Just out of curiousity, what are you keeping, that has you afraid the hydroids will harm them. Most animals are not affected by them.

The hydroids have done a significant toll of damage on my SPS, my 75g is no longer an SPS tank as a result (partially, at least, there are other factors as well but this is one of them). The other thing is over years, they have proliferated to the point they are very unsightly. Manual removal is not an option; it's like trying to drain a lake using an eyedropper. I have nothing left in my 75g that couldn't be moved for a panacur treatment, it's more a case of trying to salvage some $500 worth of rock. I have some really nice pieces in there and it would be a shame to give up on it.

Thanks for the offers for interceptor; if I get nowhere I might take someone up on that, I'll give the vets a few more tries. I'm quite surprised at how reluctant the ones I spoke to today were. Sympathetic when I explained that these "Red bugs will irritate corals to death" but not enough to actually do something to help. I wonder what kind of legal ramifications they're afraid of.

Another option I'm considering is petmeds.com -- probably can't order from them to Canada but perhaps there is a way around that -- I'll look into it some more tomorrow.

albert_dao · #6 01-19-2006, 10:10 AM

You should be able to get interceptor from the vet clinic beside the petsmart on macleod. just explain it to them, they've dealt with guys liek us before, ahha. I don't see it being such a stretch to get panacure while you're at it as long as you bring some kind of documentation.

Delphinus · #7 01-19-2006, 03:51 PM

I think you are referring to Alpine Pet Hospital.

And they are the ones who "decided after all" not to help me out. When I first called, the receptionist said, "oh yes, yes I know about that, I'll talk to our vet and call you back." They then called back and said "After discussing it with the vetrinarian, we will not dispense any kind of medication without an examination. And we do not examine aquarium animals." So in other words, "P.F.O." I was extremely disappointed espescially given that they 1) have obviously been helpful with this issue in the past and 2) they clearly knew what I was asking for and why, but declined to be helpful this time in the interest of protecting themselves from some kind of weird liability or something.

They referred me to a vet clinic, "Calgary Caged and Exotic Clinic" but only on the basis that this place will do house calls for examinations, and thus presumably will still only dispense the medication on a visual confirmation of the problem (which cannot be done as I'm not even sure myself that I have red bugs, I'm trying to be proactive here), and of course, assuming that they will accept "threads from reefs.org and reefcentral.com" as a basis for dispensing medication.

If you have any luck with these people, I want to know why exactly they chose to screw me over when they've helped other people. I was polite and courteous, and tried to explain the situation. I am frustrated, annoyed and quite peeved at this apparent disparity/double-standard/discrimination.

Quote:

Originally Posted by albert_dao

You should be able to get interceptor from the vet clinic beside the petsmart on macleod. just explain it to them, they've dealt with guys liek us before, ahha. I don't see it being such a stretch to get panacure while you're at it as long as you bring some kind of documentation.

Delphinus · #8 01-19-2006, 04:05 PM

Well after checking through all my emails this morning, I've gotten a response from 1800petmeds.com and they will ship to Canada. I think I'll just go with that for the panacur at least (although I see they also list interceptor on their site). I'm tired of this runaround I'm getting from the local vets. My own local vet is apparently on vacation otherwise I'm sure her clinic would have helped me (they were the first I tried, but her substitute/locum/whatever-you-call-it was the one who decided I should be talking to a "fish" vet).

If anyone wants to try the North Calgary vet clinic, the "fish" vet there is Dr. Richard Weger and his technician is Steve. I was allowed to set an appointment with this Steve fellow to be able to show him whatever documentation I had regarding these meds in an aquarium setting, and after that he was going to discuss the matter with Dr. Weger before dispensing. I'm not going to proceed with this exercise at this time since I'm not feeling particularly lucky anymore. If anyone wants to continue the exercise though to see if we can at least get this clinic alongside with our needs; the number there is 277-0135 and their address is 4204, 4th St NW (apparently across from James Fowler high school).

Willow · #9 01-19-2006, 05:19 PM

tony interceptor is not prescription, you should be able to just walk into any clinic and just buy it. you may want to remind the receptionist of that fact, they probably have no clue.

BMW Rider · #10 01-19-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Well after checking through all my emails this morning, I've gotten a response from 1800petmeds.com and they will ship to Canada. I think I'll just go with that for the panacur at least (although I see they also list interceptor on their site). I'm tired of this runaround I'm getting from the local vets. My own local vet is apparently on vacation otherwise I'm sure her clinic would have helped me (they were the first I tried, but her substitute/locum/whatever-you-call-it was the one who decided I should be talking to a "fish" vet).

If anyone wants to try the North Calgary vet clinic, the "fish" vet there is Dr. Richard Weger and his technician is Steve. I was allowed to set an appointment with this Steve fellow to be able to show him whatever documentation I had regarding these meds in an aquarium setting, and after that he was going to discuss the matter with Dr. Weger before dispensing. I'm not going to proceed with this exercise at this time since I'm not feeling particularly lucky anymore. If anyone wants to continue the exercise though to see if we can at least get this clinic alongside with our needs; the number there is 277-0135 and their address is 4204, 4th St NW (apparently across from James Fowler high school).

I just got home from there and was successful at getting the interceptor to treat my acro. I consulted with Steve, showed him all the info I had on the issue, the drug, and dosages. He was very receptive and helpful, he even looked at other medications with the same active ingredient to see if there was another better choice. In the end we concluded that the Interceptor was the best choice afterall, with the smallest dose tablet being more than sufficent to treat my QT tank. Dr. Weger agreed and allowed the prescription and dispensing of a single tablet so I would not have to buy the entire pack. Total cost for the consultation and drug was $7.22. They now have all the information on file that I took in, so if you mention my visit, they can refer to it for info.