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Post by torontodobielover on Sept 4, 2011 12:31:34 GMT -5
Wondering what people use? Now that I read Gail's post. Yikes.
I've been using Frontline and Interceptor. Now I'm curious what others use.
Thanks.
Sue!
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Post by trinitydobes on Sept 4, 2011 14:28:43 GMT -5
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Post by gunslinger2006 on Sept 4, 2011 14:39:13 GMT -5
I use Sentinal (milbemycin oxime / lufenuron). Milbemycin Oxime is for the heartworms and the Lufenron for the fleas. As far as Heartguard, the active ingredient is Ivermectin. When Jewel was a pup (over a year ago) I had her on Heartguard and had heard about HG and some dogs contracting HW disease so off to my vet to ask about this. He, allways being honest with me, told me that the Ivermectin in HG wasn't killing off all the microfilia thus some building an immunity to Ivermectin. He also said that the manufacturer knew this but didn't publicize this and that they would pay for treatments (nice of um huh?).
As far as missing one dose and the dog getting adult HW, not how it works. It takes a few months to get to that stage. (http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/hartw.htm) I'm not advocating missing monthly doses, just saying it's not the end of the world. Regular monthly treatments and bi-anual check ups are the key.
Just Sayin'
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Post by gunslinger2006 on Sept 4, 2011 14:44:38 GMT -5
Gail, I'm not saying Ivermectin doesn't work, just the amount in Heartguard doesn't work.
Just needed to say that before I got yelled at. LOL
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Post by trinitydobes on Sept 4, 2011 14:47:54 GMT -5
Gunny you are correct its the level of Ivermectin in the dose dispensed that is the problem with Heartgard. You have to ask yourself - why they would not just correct the doseage in the pills so that they are effective is just criminal to me - and why the lawsuit will surely prevail
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Post by gunslinger2006 on Sept 4, 2011 14:58:06 GMT -5
Money!
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Post by Kia on Sept 4, 2011 17:20:03 GMT -5
I use Ivomec injectable (but I don't inject it obviously LOL) for heartworm prevention and Sevin dust for fleas and other creepy crawlies.
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Post by swiftk9s on Sept 4, 2011 18:06:03 GMT -5
I use Sentinel for HW/fleas.
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Post by Shadowlands on Sept 4, 2011 18:22:26 GMT -5
I use Revolution for fleas and heartworm.
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Post by breesmom on Sept 4, 2011 19:58:04 GMT -5
I was using Revolution for fleas and heartworms but after reading Gail's info on the topicals I switched to natural mixture for fleas and Heartguard for HW, but now I guess I will be looking for something different for Heartworm prevention too  |
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Post by gemmasmomma on Sept 4, 2011 22:29:15 GMT -5
Just curious why all of you just automatically 'heartworm' medicate and not test to see if the dog is infected at all? I have opted not to give my dogs anything and I test them three time a year.. spring summer and fall... its only $35 to test and if the dog is tested regularly anything that they may 'catch' is caught by the test and it would never be so far gone that it was not treatable if you test regularly. A bloodtest is all that is needed and all vets do 'low cost' heartworm testing for everyone. I admit I am not in a 'high exposure' area.. but vets here love to advertise about the 'cases of heartworm' found in all areas just for promotion. I just wondered why no one else here does that? www.theherbsplace.com/Heartworm_Prevention_sp_104.htmlthis is why I do not just automatically 'medicate' them with a poison intended to kill something they most likely do not have.. I have no fleas so that is not an issue here at all.. but flies, no-seeum's and mosquito's are.... we do have ticks too.. but I have not had a tick issue in years even though I had a bad one a couple years (4-5 years) ago... Just curious... but I do recommend a cedar oil spray and cedar granules for your yard to keep fleas, no-seeum's, mosquito's, flies and all other kind of creeply crawlies away from your yard. Its TOTALLY no toxic and works better than just about any chemical! It is GREAT stuff and your yard will smell all cedary! There is also diatomaceous earth you can put on your dog to kill fleas and ticks and ITS NON toxic.... penny royal herb or oil and lavender oil mixed with Tea tree oil in a spray bottle will keep you dogs free of mosquito's and if you spritz them down when they go outside and or for a walk it will keep the bugs off of you and them. Penny royal herb can be bought in bulk in any health food store and put in their 'beds' weekly to keep the bugs away and keep the bed smelling nice! Just some organic ideas and non toxic methods to keep bugs and fleas and mosquito's off or away from you 'fur kids'... |
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Post by Shadowlands on Sept 6, 2011 6:18:01 GMT -5
The question was what preventative do you use. Period. To automatically assume none of us test first is a little presumptuous don't you think?
As far as I know, vets test at least once a year to confirm or deny presence of heartworms before administering the next years preventative. The heartworm is something that I myself have battled over since this preventative needs to be tested yearly (minimum) then how effective can it be? Also, since the main ingredient is heart worm preventatives is arsenic, although lower doses than the treatments, I still can't help wonder what this does to our dogs systems. We can have quite bad mosquitos here and I usually go up north every year which can be even worse which is why I usually use it except on my 12 year old. I do use a natural bug repellent on my guys, but it doesn't mean they won't or can't get bitten.
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Post by breesmom on Sept 6, 2011 9:00:15 GMT -5
As far as testing for Heartworm our vet tests before they sell you the preventative and says not to start the med until test results are back.
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Post by gemmasmomma on Sept 6, 2011 10:49:53 GMT -5
Shadow: Presumption was there... my bad for that?
I find that more often than not most people simply assume that they need to do something rather than find out if they need too.
If thats not you? I am glad to hear that you do not act in that way!!
But testing is the key is it not?
If your dog has NOTHING present, then why would you try "Prevent" it?
If it has it, then of course treat it.. kinda like if it ain't broke dont fix it" old mantra....
I just tend to think that: why give them a toxin to kill something they may or may not get? Why not just test three times a year instead? and see if in fact they did get anything or not... if not, don't fix it.
that was my question really...
Since to tend to lean way into natural realms of treatment and holistic thought in both human and animal care... I just believe that I should keep them far away from any and all toxic poisons until such time that they actually do get infected, which could be never. Since the cases are out there, but compared to the numbers of dogs out there, the cases are limited per capita. Some places are much worse than others and might actually warrant testing four times a year to be sure... winter too...
Just a thought... its what I do, because I do not give my dogs something that is toxic at all costs and I rely upon the inexpensiveness of the testing methods to establish if its ever necessary...
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Post by trinitydobes on Sept 6, 2011 12:24:48 GMT -5
The question was what preventative do you use. Period. To automatically assume none of us test first is a little presumptuous don't you think? As far as I know, vets test at least once a year to confirm or deny presence of heartworms before administering the next years preventative. The heartworm is something that I myself have battled over since this preventative needs to be tested yearly (minimum) then how effective can it be? Also, since the main ingredient is heart worm preventatives is arsenic, although lower doses than the treatments, I still can't help wonder what this does to our dogs systems. Sandy - most heart worm preventatives have moved away from Arsenic - many are now Ivermectin based. We can have quite bad mosquitos here and I usually go up north every year which can be even worse which is why I usually use it except on my 12 year old. I do use a natural bug repellent on my guys, but it doesn't mean they won't or can't get bitten. I think that being EXTREME in any regard is not good - I live in a mosquito rich environment - it is not a matter of IF your dog will get bit by a mosquito and infected with Heartworms, but rather WHEN. To not use heart worm medications to PREVENT heartworms, in this type of enviroment is NEGLIGENT IMHO. Preventitive medication used to keep your dogs healthy is a good thing - to NOT do so is negligent IMHO.
Everyone needs to evaluate their environment and decide what works best for you. HOWEVER as a responsible dog owner you have the responsiblity to use whatever tools available to keep your dogs healthy - allowing them to get Heartworms and then treat to kill them is not responsible. Once your dog has heartworms and tests positive, The treatment is long! 8 months, and you have to restrict exercise for the term of the treatment. Its not easy keeping a doberman quiet and calm with little exercise but leash walking for 8 months. Diva is willing to take this risk, however I am not and I urge you all to do your own research on what is involved if your dog tests positive for heart worms - then make the decision whether or not you should use a heart worm preventative medicine.
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