I'm curious to know how many people use these products? Dousing a dog in pesticides for its life seems dangerous...on the other hand, dealing with heart worm or lyme disease also seems scary. My roommate and I are both leaning towards not using this stuff...my roommy is from serbia and knows very old dogs who've been fed raw and given none of these treatments and they live until very old age. Some opinions from users of this forum would be great.
Frontline, heartworm prevention - do you use these?
- Thread starter phillo
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My dog is on Frontline about every other month (I get Frontline free from the Merial reps), and on Heartgard monthly (also get that free from the reps). I'd rather use a heartworm preventative than have my dog get heartworms, I've see too many cases of heartworm. It's heartbreaking, and for what it costs to treat you can but preventative for something like 10 or 12 years (I calculated it out before, just don't remember exactly how long). Would you rather give a small dose of ivermectin (or another drug) once a month, or use an arsenic-like drug to treat heartworms?
For a lot of people it depends on where you live. Some places present more of a risk than others, where the risks of preventatives is preferable to the risk of the diseases. In other places, the risk of getting the disease is low so it doesn't make sense to take on the risks of using the preventatives.
Auggie is on heartworm meds year round because risk is very high here in Illinois. He gets treated with Frontline every 45 days during warmer months, which depending on the weather patterns can mean 8 or 9 months. I just put his first dose for the year on last week and it will probably continue until September or October.
Auggie is on heartworm meds year round because risk is very high here in Illinois. He gets treated with Frontline every 45 days during warmer months, which depending on the weather patterns can mean 8 or 9 months. I just put his first dose for the year on last week and it will probably continue until September or October.
This. Where do you live? Serbia doesn't really have heartworm to a large degree. It's just not present in large quantities for whatever reason; my guess is that the mosquito species present aren't the correct ones to carry the microfilaria.
Here in the states, however, it's pretty common. Further north you go, less problems you're going to have (mosquitoes don't tolerate cold well).
Here in the states, however, it's pretty common. Further north you go, less problems you're going to have (mosquitoes don't tolerate cold well).
Like others have said, it depends on where you live. I am a strong believer in HW meds, and i would never let my dog go without them (unless we lived in an area without, but its Such a small amount once a month anyways). I use Frontline as needed, but not all the time. Again, if i lived in a flea area then yes i would use it monthly without hesitation (for my dogs and my familys benefits). The heartworm medications now adays are So much safer then they used to be. To me the "risks" of the medications FAR outweigh the damage that HW can cause. I personally think its irresponsible not to give HW meds if you are in a HW area.
i give heartworm preventative except in the very dead of winter. we don't see a lot of it here, but we do see it, and i really really don't want to have to go through heartworm treatment with any of my dogs. it's not fun.
i don't use frontline unless i am actually having an issue, though i probably ought to. we do have ticks (i pulled one off steve on friday) and we do have quite a bit of lyme in this area. but it's so icky, especially on the pit bulls with their sleek coats.
i don't use frontline unless i am actually having an issue, though i probably ought to. we do have ticks (i pulled one off steve on friday) and we do have quite a bit of lyme in this area. but it's so icky, especially on the pit bulls with their sleek coats.
For Juno, yes. We have a huge huge huge mosquito population in the summer, and she spends the majority of her day outside, so it'd be foolish if she wasn't protected. Frontline, eh, normally I wouldn't push so much that she NEEDS it... but again, in the summer she's outside a lot, we go through the woods, so ticks are a risk for her.
Lucy doesn't get any of it. She goes outside to pee. That's it. She's not exposed to ticks, she's not outside at the time of evening the mosquitoes come out at. We never used this stuff on Molly either, so it's all "new" to me with Juno.
Lucy doesn't get any of it. She goes outside to pee. That's it. She's not exposed to ticks, she's not outside at the time of evening the mosquitoes come out at. We never used this stuff on Molly either, so it's all "new" to me with Juno.
I think a dog on a high quality diet, such as raw, is healthier and not as susceptible to parasites. My dog is on raw and is not bothered by fleas or ticks. We've had chickens for a few years and I know this helps with the ticks. I give my dogs black walnut hull tincture as a heartworm preventative. I know many people feel better giving a commercial medicine, but collies can't have Ivermectin, and the black walnut has worked for 8 years.
Here's a little map for ya:
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/Compliance.jpg
I do both Frontline and Heartgard roughly April/May-September/October.
Basically if there are mosquitoes, I'm giving a preventative. A small dose of ivermectin (or whatever your HW drug of choice is) each month, probably not going to affect my dog, but having to treat heartworm if your dog gets it... nasty to go through.
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/Compliance.jpg
I do both Frontline and Heartgard roughly April/May-September/October.
Basically if there are mosquitoes, I'm giving a preventative. A small dose of ivermectin (or whatever your HW drug of choice is) each month, probably not going to affect my dog, but having to treat heartworm if your dog gets it... nasty to go through.
When I first went to the veterinarian that I use out here in Colorado I asked them for Frontline and Heartguard. They gave me a funny look and told me that they would sell it to me, but that I didn't really need it because fleas/ticks/mosquitoes don't do well at our altitude.
I have always used these products living in Pennsylvania and needed them. I still use them because I just can't see risking their health or mine.
I have always used these products living in Pennsylvania and needed them. I still use them because I just can't see risking their health or mine.
I'd rather use heartworm preventive medicine year round instead of Lola getting heart worm and dealing with it then. We have a ton of Mosquitos in NJ. One day they just might make it the state bird :lol-sign:
Frontline I use from March till the end of October. The ticks last year were really bad. Fortunately her fur is long and white so when they get on her I get them off before they get their first sip.
Frontline I use from March till the end of October. The ticks last year were really bad. Fortunately her fur is long and white so when they get on her I get them off before they get their first sip.
I treat in the months of the year that we have mosquitoes. This year should be WAY better for us since we had a LONG hard freeze here for GA. Seriously, there were days where it didn't get above freezing during the day at all.
Anyway, I treat from about the end of March until October or so? Depends on when we stop seeing mosquitoes. I give it every 45 days. We have never had a problem with it before, in the 12 years or so that I can really remember back to taking care of the dogs.
I treat fleas when I see them. Capstar usually, but sometimes I use the Frontline spray on them if the fleas are terrible.
Anyway, I treat from about the end of March until October or so? Depends on when we stop seeing mosquitoes. I give it every 45 days. We have never had a problem with it before, in the 12 years or so that I can really remember back to taking care of the dogs.
I treat fleas when I see them. Capstar usually, but sometimes I use the Frontline spray on them if the fleas are terrible.