I've been reading the thread on rabies vaccines and also looking at some websites of breeders that raise puppies holistically. Raw feed, minimal vax if any, but I also noticed that quit a few of them do not use heartworm preventatives either. I would like to hear everyones thoughts on that and if you do use hw preventative or not. Where I am you are pretty much guarenteed a case of heartworms if you don't use it.


Lisa

I live in western Washington which is a HW free zone for now so I don't use a preventative. Generally speaking I'm not against using them though and do when I know there is a trip to an infected area coming up.

I don't use them. It's just Ivermectin in most options anyway, and I just test yearly and would treat as necessary. It is not as easy for a HEALTHY dog to be taken down by a case of heartworms as vets and drug companies would lead you to believe. I researched the issue b/c it says specifically not to give it to epileptics (I have one) and so I wondered how great it was for ANY dog and decided to go this route instead.

Testing every 6 mos. should be sufficient, IMO, if you live in a "bad" area and do not wish to, or cannot due to health reasons, use a preventative.

This website discusses a study done on what environmental factors(mainly temperature) which must be present for heartworm to be a health risk. There are linked maps that show what time of year HW preventative should be used if any. I myself choose not to use any as the introduction of toxins is something I avoid, but I also am lucky enough to live in an area where the HW season is very short.

 Quote:

It was found that specific conditions must exist in order for the larvae in the mosquito to move on to stage L3, allowing the mosquito to pass on heartworm through its mouthparts.

Heartworm by region

There is a huge problem with them here and over the last couple of years there has been an increase with dogs on preventative that have become infected also.

Jenni, again just curious but the treatment for heartworms consist of fairly harsh chemicals plus the damage they may do to the dog before you found out it was infected. How did you reach the decision that it would be better to treat if needed that use the preventative?

Lisa

Interesting chart and website Shannon. Especially since I really want a Tibetan Mastiff.


Lisa

Lisa, look up the duration it takes to do significant damage to a dog's heart. Some astronomical percentage of medication-related deaths happened w/heartworm prevention. If it's ok to test dogs who have seizures or other problems, why not be conservative with all of them? Keep in mind that parasites are not able to progress as quickly in a healthy animal. http://books.google.com/books?id=YSKQngJJBcMC&pg=PA277&lpg=PA277&dq=pitcairn+heartworm&source=web&ots=lKHDVSZXkH&sig=3Z5Nk_QIkeiSFFFa6Kt07pPH5po#PPA277,M1 Page 278, if I remember correctly is the page where he stresses keeping the animal strong as a major means of prevention, since wild animals are very unlikely to get the disease, thus suggesting a type of immunity that your average pet is not developing.

I am fully aware that many people think I expose my animals to unnecessary risks by my beliefs. I would rather have my dogs die of an acute illness, virus, disease, accident, etc. than suffer chronic problems their entire lives because of slowly poisoning them, which is how I feel about excess vaccines, flea preventatives, heartworm meds, etc. It's a decision I've made and a risk I take. I don't expect everyone else to agree, but I do think they need to do exercise some due diligence and arrive at their own conclusion.

Edited to say do a simple google search on ivermectin deaths and side effects; the preventative is far from harmless.
http://list.weim.net/pipermail/holisticweim/2002-December/017229.html

 Quote: jenni williams

It's a decision I've made and a risk I take. I don't expect everyone else to agree, but I do think they need to do exercise some due diligence and arrive at their own conclusion.

Edited to say do a simple google search on ivermectin deaths and side effects; the preventative is far from harmless.

Yes, it's something that every dog owner should be educated about.

My pre-owned dogs have been turned around to the best health I think I can help give them, with excellent food, no "boosters," good exercise, etc. But not having raised them from puppyhood, or even from young-adulthood, means that I'll never know the real state of their immune systems -- or even their personal histories. For me, they just don't fall into Dr. Pitcairn's example of dogs protected from chemicals and toxins since birth, fed the most appropriate foods since weaning, etc.

Interesting page Jenni. I'll google the side effects after we get back from obedience class tonight. I have no doubt that a lot of posters here throughly research things like this then make decissions based on what you feel is in the best interest of their dogs. That's why I was interested in how you had made your choices.

Lisa