Quote:

There must be a full moon.

Or perhaps another 28 day cycle.

O...M...G...did I just say that out loud?

::Runs to the hills::

 Quote: Steven Lepic

 Quote:

There must be a full moon.

Or perhaps another 28 day cycle.

O...M...G...did I just say that out loud?

::Runs to the hills::

You'd better run! Or that stern Pug will be after you! Check out those paws. He slaps you, you FEEL it.

I do apologize for being led off-track, and I did try to return previously. Admittedly, I found being called "selfish and irresponsible" and accused of "adding to millions of deaths" by a total stranger in regard to HEARTWORM prev. amusing and was provoked into responding. SORRY!

The issue, as I see it, is multi-fold: 1) Does it actually PREVENT hw infection, or merely infestation by killing a certain phase of larvae? Is it then possible that during the phase, before they are killed by the "preventative" that the disease can be spread? 2) is the risk high enough in your area (or your dog) to warrant monthly/year-round protection despite possible (potentially serious) complications? 3) Again, I state EACH OWNER NEEDS TO EVALUATE THEIR DOGS'(OR DOG'S) HEALTH, LEVEL OF RISK, AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVE DATA AND THEN MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.

I stand my my selfishness and say that everyone needs to do what is best for their own dog and situation; this is a serious enough issue to mandate due diligence and a clear understanding of both sides of the issue. I don't see it as black or white; if it were black or white, IMO, dogs on preventatives wouldn't be coming down w/hw infestations. There's enough gray to look a little deeper.

I have just read this post and Colleen, I have to vigorously come to Jenni's defense here. She is one of the most caring people I know. I don't post here often but the record needs to be set straight. I used to breed GSD's and sold a female to a person in in the Chicago area near Jenni about 3 and a half years ago. Last week I received a call saying that if the owner couldn't find a home for her by the next morning, she would be put down. Now I am 1000 miles away in SC and I was frantic. The owner had to move in with her daughter and the the daughter (a complete psycho, but that's a whole other story) insisted that the dog had to go. In a panic, I called Jenni who jumped into action and called Steve Zorn who took the dog in and is going to find another home for her. The dog had been terribly abused and was starved by the owner's daughter and if not for Jenni and Steve, she would be dead now. So I could not sit by and have someone insinuate that she was uncaring. She and Steve are my heroes.

Edited by Karen Rambo (02/18/2008 03:50 PM)
Edit reason: my typing leave a lot to be desired

Karen, while I appreciate your staunch support, the request was that we return to the original topic.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Carol Boche

..... It is tiring to come here and have to read through all the crap in order to read about the original post. ... This topic is one I find interesting and would probably be able to gain some great information from it, but now it is one that I do not even want to read anymore.

A HUGE ditto. First I started getting PMs. Then I logged on to see how in the name of anyhing a heartworm thread could be generating PMs from disgusted members.

It's amazing! We have the best board I know and the most knowledgable members I see anywhere!

There must be a full moon.

Back to the O.P., PLEASE!

 Quote: lisa kidd

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 do use it (I go a 6 week instead of monthly) and I laid off it in the winter months. My vet tested Zeus recently and he was negative, I normaly buy from them but found it (heartguard plus) considerably cheaper online. Well I needed a script from them and they wrote it but didn't seem very happy I bought elsewhere and warned that unless I buy from them there is no guarantee, They claim if your dog comes up positive they will pay all or some of the treatment costs. Then they inform me that they have had 3 recent cases of that. So it has made me think along with what I read here. It is only a prevention and your dog can still get heartworms. My vet charges $90 for a year of the large, my dog is 97 pounds, they say if he goes over 100 I should use one large and one small together (more money) or I could get tested at $28 each. It isn't the money so much but needlessly loading him with chemicals does bother me and my vets a big product and drug pusher. Here's my big question does all these preventatives and vaccines kill the dogs natural immune system? Is there a more natural preventative?

According to this website, yes there is an herbal alternative to the regular hw treatment.
http://www.healthyhappydogs.com/Heartworm
This is another good link:
http://www.dogaware.com/HeartwormPrevention.html

Edited by Janice Jarman (02/18/2008 04:08 PM)
Edit reason: add another link

Ok, will do. I live in South Carolina where there are roving gangs of "skeeters" that will steal your cars and run off with your women folk. My dogs get Ivermectin monthly and have for years with no adverse side effects or at least not obvious ones. If you do not treat your dogs in the south they will assuredly get heartworm. They are raw fed and healthy but it is our personal decision after weighing the options that preventative is the best way to go. As aforementioned, this is a personal decison and we feel it is the right one for our dogs but each dog owner has to decide what is best for their own dogs.

 Quote: john malufka

Here's my big question does all these preventatives and vaccines kill the dogs natural immune system? Is there a more natural preventative?

IMHO, yes. I don't know about natural preventatives, but would check out whatever Janice posted. I believe (and it's only my fairly-educated opinion) that bombarding a dog's immune system w/drugs absolutely depresses it, since it's so busy fighting off the chemical that it is weakened and therefore unable to adequately fight off other infections/diseases/viruses/etc. I would be cautious, and only use what I felt was necessary, and stay away from the "just in case" preventatives that can do more harm than good and just may not be necessary in your situation. I would also research another vet if yours is as you say.

 Quote: jenni williams

 Quote: john malufka

Here's my big question does all these preventatives and vaccines kill the dogs natural immune system? Is there a more natural preventative?

IMHO, yes. I don't know about natural preventatives, but would check out whatever Janice posted. I believe (and it's only my fairly-educated opinion) that bombarding a dog's immune system w/drugs absolutely depresses it, since it's so busy fighting off the chemical that it is weakened and therefore unable to adequately fight off other infections/diseases/viruses/etc. I would be cautious, and only use what I felt was necessary, and stay away from the "just in case" preventatives that can do more harm than good and just may not be necessary in your situation. I would also research another vet if yours is as you say.

Yes I am looking into a more openminded vet, I also have a diabetic cat that she wanted me to feed purina and science diet and wasn't happy when I said he gets EVO and grain free wellness and wouldn't eat the other garbage. She pushes all the products and loves to load up with drugs.