Parasite Control Question...
LOL...I sometimes think I leave the vet w/ more questions than answers.
My biggest, is heartworm/parasite prevention. We've got Kahlo on Frontline Plus because we do go into wooded parks and will be going to Idaho (Tick City...my daughter nearly died from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from a tick!).
The Vet suggested Sentinal ....my question, is that overkill? Event the vet noted that she's not concerned for a PNW dog, but feared that a dog who travels through moses lake en-route to Idaho may be at risk, albeit low (especially since we don't stop...we make the trip in a day)....when I look at what's contained in Sentinal, I can't see putting my dog on a year round dose of the stuff for a nearly non-existant threat...Is it possible to do like two months (to cover the time we travel....and avoid 10 months of pesticide??). The vet was pretty adament that we put her on this.
My biggest, is heartworm/parasite prevention. We've got Kahlo on Frontline Plus because we do go into wooded parks and will be going to Idaho (Tick City...my daughter nearly died from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from a tick!).
The Vet suggested Sentinal ....my question, is that overkill? Event the vet noted that she's not concerned for a PNW dog, but feared that a dog who travels through moses lake en-route to Idaho may be at risk, albeit low (especially since we don't stop...we make the trip in a day)....when I look at what's contained in Sentinal, I can't see putting my dog on a year round dose of the stuff for a nearly non-existant threat...Is it possible to do like two months (to cover the time we travel....and avoid 10 months of pesticide??). The vet was pretty adament that we put her on this.
Comments
But she is passionate about staying away from those chemicals.
I look at it this way, read the warnings if those things are ingested or even touched by children. Why would I intentionally put it on my furry kids.
I used to advocate all of the preventatives. Not anymore.
http://frontline.us.merial.com/home/
Heartguard - Heartworm 'preventative', also prevents roundworms, hookworms
http://heartgard.us.merial.com/home/
Interceptor - heartworm 'preventative', also prevents roundworms, hookworms and whipworms
http://www.interceptor.novartis.us/
Sentinel - sterilizes, but does not kill fleas. Prevents heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms
http://www.sentinelpet.com/index.html
You have to consider where you live and the rate of parasitic infection in canines in your area/areas you travel to. Ask your vet or google for "rate of Heartworm infection in [your city] and [your state]", "rate of round/hook/whip worm" and "rate of tick and flea".
We give our dogs Frontline Plus between April and October (not when the ground is frozen). I also only give Interceptor once every 4 months, since it kills the baby worms, doing it this way does not give them a chance to sexually mature. This is just my personal preventative plan, though.
Honestly, while Sentinel might seem like overkill, I suppose the idea is to get coverage in an all in one tablet rather than take two separate meds at full dose (such as frontline plus + heartguard, rather than one sentinel). It has its purpose.
Also, consider that all dogs handle these things differently. For instance, I wouldn't give Heartguard to a collie breed as they tend to develop seizures/heart issues on that med vs. interceptor.. some dogs have reactions to meds like Advantix (which is harmful to cats!) or Advantage while tolerating Frontline Plus just fine. With a product like Sentinel, its an all in one, so either you greatly reduce reaction or risk high reaction.
Jessica-what have you found to be effective against ticks?
Fleas are a nuisance, but they can lead to tapeworm infection, which is pretty gross.
Ticks leave debilitating conditions by spreading Lymes and other fevers.
Whipworms do irreversible damage to intestinal linings.
Heartworms are much more invasive and dangerous than I realized, and no dog should ever have to go through the treatment of heartworms when effective, cheap preventatives exist.
But are these all risks in the area you live in? Like certain vaccines, will you be around wild animal urine so your dog needs a Lepto shot once a year? Will you need Bordatella or will you not be around many dogs? Is the lymes vaccine more effective for you than using a tick killing application?
Vets are great for general info, but they also have to pull a profit. Going in armed with basic background knowledge really helps your bottom line.
Holistic solutions do work, but also rely on the total well being of the dog to work - an all around healthy dog wards off infestation naturally, their body is their best defense. Garlic and brewers yeast does work, I have a friend with a 5 year old chow that has never had a single flea or tick (and in NE PA, thats a miracle!). She's always been fed a natural (homecooked) diet and looks unbelievably healthy from the inside out. But there is also a limit on garlic consumption, as well.
I'm finding that understand what the products available (both natural and pharmaceutical) do, weighing it against the risks, and making an educated decision for your individual dog is the best treatment plan you can offer your dog.
However, we do always give the monthly preventative meds for Heart Worm. I know of some dogs who do have problems with Heartgard - ivermection so read the insert for adverse symptoms. Some can not tolerate that medication at all.
Snf
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For me, it seems like a wide range of coverage that I don't feel my dog needs monthly (mange, mites) and doesn't cover what I would like to protect against (round/hook worms).
Also, from their website:
"While the number of circulating adult D. immitis microfilariae may decrease following treatment, Revolution is not effective for microfilariae clearance."
Which for me is crucial... the way to prevent (adult) heartworm infestation is to kill all microfilariae, which heartguard and interceptor do.
Just my opinion on what my dogs need/don't need, though.
Vectra 3D
http://www.drugs.com/vet/vectra-3d.html
It seems more intense than I like, I wouldn't use it, and it is not recommended for cats. But just putting it out there for research.
http://www.advantix.info/Repel-Kill-advantix-R-is-differ.1881.0.html
An interested little study: of the four dogs romping together this weekend, the only ones to get ticks are the ones NOT on advantix (my two, naturally).
It's a white plastic collar with deltametrine, that supposedly acts through evaporation on the dogs body and is (according to what I've read) very deadly to pretty much all insects, sop they say it protects aginst fleas and ticks too. It's supposedly safe for dogs, even if ingested.
Kuma gets a new one every 4 months, although they say it's effective against mosquitoes for 6 months. You might have seen it in photos of him.
But I am paranoid about Leishmaniosis, so better safe than sorry. We also have mosquito nets on every window and those get sprayed with BioKill (a warm blood animal safe, biodegradable insecticide) every 3 weeks or so during wars months.