It's the first of the month, and it is time to apply Molly's monthly dose of Revolution.
I find myself doing some soul searching-if I go to all of the loving effort to feed her THK + raw, give her fish oil, vitamin E & C, R.O water, etc....then place a toxin on her skin only to soak into her bloodstream-Am I undoing all of the positive health benefits I am seeking for her? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

What type of flea/tick/heartworm prevention medication do you all use? Do you think they are safe?

I know you will get many more responses; I'll just link you to a couple of threads about fleas and heartworms.


http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=29702&page=1#328627

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=28345&page=1#307324

 Quote: christy mascari

THK + raw, give her fish oil, vitamin E & C, R.O water, etc....

None of which will prevent fleas, ticks, or the worst of the bunch, heartworms.

Just my opinion.

There are 'natural' insect repellents and a vet in Florida has had great success with his homeopathic heart worm treatment AND prevention procedures.

I don't put commercial pesticides on my cats and dogs. I use diatomaceous earth as a carpet treatment and also dust the powder right onto my dog and cat every other week. I also put diatomaceous earth onto their kibble (mixed in with some canned food) and haven't had a positive fecal since starting. When it's warm enough I use herbal bug repellents that I've used on myself and have proof work to repel most biting insects. I have't found a single tick on me OR my pets since using 'natural' repellents.

As for heart worm - the bug's gotta bite the dog for the infection to happen. A healthy dog can fight off a few larva. I haven't had a dog test positive since I've stopped using traditional heart worm prevention because the bugs don't bite my dog.

This is all MY opinion. You can do what you feel like. I don't judge others (or even care) if you go more traditional routes.

"I also put diatomaceous earth onto their kibble (mixed in with some canned food) and haven't had a positive fecal since starting. "

Food grade, right?

No positive fecals for worms? Did you have much worm problem before? I ask because I haven't had a dog with worms in decades (adult dogs, though).

I was not successful with DE against fleas. But that's strictly anecdotal. I wanted it to work, and I'm glad it does for some.



PS

I'm not a proponent of unnecessary chemicals for me or my dogs. But my dogs have unknown histories, and I know they have been over-vaccinated (they have been in the shelter system, for one thing).

They did not have lives of excellent diets before they came to me.

I don't treat for intestinal worms without signs or evidence, but I don't at all rely on their immune systems to fight off heartworm disease.


I think this is exactly what the O.P. wants: varied opinions and experience.

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

As for heart worm - the bug's gotta bite the dog for the infection to happen. .... the bugs don't bite my dog.

Not quarreling with this, but asking: how can you know if mosquitos don't bite your dogs?

I'm going to put my 2 cents in here. I am a retired veterinarian, so I am brainwashed.

To me it is a welfare issue to believe that natural remedies really protect. If you live where there are no fleas and heartworm to speak of, you get by. Or, if your dogs always get hit by cars before they are 4 or you trade dogs off, take them to shelters when they are young and get new ones (lots of folks do this, not Forum folks, but the general population), maybe you never even know your dog has heartworm. Maybe it doesn't live long enough to get heartworm. Some dogs pee on paper and never go outdoors. Natural remedies prevent fleas and heartworm in these dogs. Fifi in Palm Beach who has a bath twice a month at the groomer and rarely goes out of the condo does not need monthly Frontline.
For the rest of us, fleas are a really bad deal . The allergies they cause are miserable, and the vet bills to fight these allergies lead to the owner getting rid of the dog. And heartworm will kill your dog. Not maybe, it will kill the dog period. A big dog can live with a few heartworms. A little dog can't.
If you live in a place that has a significant heartworm and flea problem in my view you are a lousy owner if you don't offer modern medicine. If you can't stand chemicals or your dog has some sensitivity, then you make adjustments (my collie can't have ivermectin).

I also use the food grade diatomaceous earth and we have no problems with fleas. Mosquitos are not a big proble where I live so we don't use heartworm preventative. I would certainly use it if I lived someplace with a larger mosquito population.

I "discovered" the natural alternatives such as diatomaceous earth, and others when I had a dog that was severely allergic to fleas and the products available at the time. I think you have to use what is best for your dog and situation, weighing the pros and cons of each choice.

Thats a tough one, after having had a dog who had rocky mountain spotted fever ( and dealing with the five year sequela ), and lyme and the flares from that. As well as having Amber having lyme there is no way I would not use a tick repellant on them. I dont use frontline, found it to be largely ineffective for the ticks in this area and when I would put it on my dog I could taste it. I use mosquito spray on myself and fly spray on the horses. But like acnything else its a personal choice.

After Katrina, the county I live in took in many abandoned dogs, meeting couriers halfway to pick them up (we have two shelters).

I will never forget that half of them had heartworm with symptoms, and how hard it was, first to raise the money for treatment (many vets gave their services, but we had to get the meds), and second to watch them go through it.

Added to that experience is my own dogs having unknown early health history. An excellently healthy dog who has not been vaxed too early and too often and has lived a life free of antibiotic overuse and bad food, and free of suppressive meds .... such a dog indeed may not be susceptible to a light parasite load.

I don't have dogs with such histories, and I also have a dog who is allergic to flea saliva.

For me, there's no real question. But that's just me.