Flea & Tick Medicine???

Beauceron.Akita.Golden

Also use Iverheart (supposed to be generic of heartguard?) every month for heartworms...here in the south, cant risk missing a month of that!

I can't here either-- but the problem is that because they have to dose the ivermectin drugs SO low (in order for them to be ok for herding dogs) they tend to fail ... a LOT.  I use Interceptor -- if I gotta do it, I want to make sure it's effective.

calliecritturs

Beauceron.Akita.Golden

Also use Iverheart (supposed to be generic of heartguard?) every month for heartworms...here in the south, cant risk missing a month of that!

I can't here either-- but the problem is that because they have to dose the ivermectin drugs SO low (in order for them to be ok for herding dogs) they tend to fail ... a LOT.  I use Interceptor -- if I gotta do it, I want to make sure it's effective.

 Ivermectin actually isn't a danger to herding breeds in general but a specific "family" of herding breeds - Rough/Smooth Collies, Shelties, Aussies, Mini Aussies/North American Shepherds, McNabs and also in Silken Windhound (a new sighthound breed which has Sheltie in it's background). In these dogs, there is now a DNA test which can determine if Ivermectin and related drugs can or can not be used. Unfortunately, many vets for years refused to acknowledge that Collies tended to have problems with Ivermectin and routinely prescribed Heartguard for them. The companies weren't all that great about getting the truth out either - Heartgard even used Lassie as "spokesdog"

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcpl/

willowchow

I will probably do it once when the weather gets warm and then if I'm seeing ticks I will have to do it again.  . 

Were the ticks in your area horrible this past year? They were terrible here, and tick season lasted an extra long time! We were using FrontlinePlus every single month and we were still pulling a tick or two off here and there....I even found 1 on me! YUUUUUUCK!  

AgileGSD

 The companies weren't all that great about getting the truth out either - Heartgard even used Lassie as "spokesdog"

That's my point -- they didn't want to lose a chunk of business so they have dosed the product SO low (so it doesn't react in the breeds that are sensitive) that it fails regularly -- in many places in the South they are seeing heartworm **resistant** to ivermectin because so many have survive the ultra low dose that it's begun to create a version of super heartworm. 

Because collies and shelties and the various herding breeds that are sensitive to ivermectin are so often cross-bred with other breeds it's pretty difficult to refer to all those breeds.  Simply saying ""ok for herding dogs" is just a more generic term.  I do occasionally TRY to be brief.

 We use Frontline Plus too, mostly for the wood ticks, we only have flea problems if the mice get into our shed. We also use Zema tick detach collars for the deer ticks of which we have tons of. The tick collars paralyze the tick mouth parts so they can't bite and die quickly so even when they get off the dogs I've never had one attache to me. You will need to check if the tick collar is okay to use with other flea/tick meds.

 There have been whipworms in my area, lately, so everybody got switched to Interceptor. I think it's the higher dose that's killing all the stuff, but IDK. My friend uses ivermectin for her dogs, but gives them a dose that is higher than Heartguard.

Truthfully - I haven't seen heartgard 'failing'. Most of the animals at my clinic are on heartgard - and they routinely test negative (we send all blood to the lab, no snap tests). Heartgard also has a guarantee - if a dog is on heartgard, and tests positive - they will pay for treatment. I'm not a spokesperson for their company, nor do I use the product - but I don't think it's fair to say it just doesn't work - when I haven't seen that to be true.

 BUT.... I read an article, just yesterday, about Merial having technical difficulties, and being unable to produce heartworm treatment. So, if your preventative fails (which could happen with anything, honestly, I just started using Interceptor because of Em and keep using it for the whipworm problem), your dog might not be able to get treatment until they begin producing, again. That is a scary thought.

  I only use the Frontline when I need to also. And mainly for ticks. I dont really have a problem with fleas here. We also flea/tick the yard every month. I did keep it on Lillie every month though because she would break out from one little flea bite. I always check the dogs daily for bugs and if I saw any I would put some Frontline on.

Cheyanne for some odd reason never needs any. Joker was the same way.

My guys get Interceptor as a heartworm prevention.

erica1989

Truthfully - I haven't seen heartgard 'failing'. Most of the animals at my clinic are on heartgard - and they routinely test negative

That's from both my regular vet (who is really pretty unhappy about it) and my holistic vet as well.  We're not that far away from you -- but given that those are two vets in two completely different practice types I'm inclined to give it weight.  Dr. Bailey went to Auburn so he may be getting info from further afield as well.

erica1989

if a dog is on heartgard, and tests positive - they will pay for treatment. I'm not a spokesperson for their company, nor do I use the product - but I don't think it's fair to say it just doesn't work - when I haven't seen that to be true.

I'm curious to know if the dogs it's failing on are getting it properly. . .as in the correct dosage monthly.  My vet told me fine if I wanted to give Willow the Interceptor yellow box (she's almost 53 lbs) and dose every 45 days but that it wasn't guaranteed by the company. 

It's not technical difficulties - they are moving plants, and have halted production for a while. It IS still available - just not as easy to get. You can't stock up, but if you have a critical dog, they will give you the treatment.

And Lori - that was my main thought.

I can only go by what I see. The living facts. Most of our dogs are on heartgard, and always test negative. Being a low cost clinic - we see a TON of dogs for their annuals. 

BlackLabbie

Were the ticks in your area horrible this past year? They were terrible here, and tick season lasted an extra long time! We were using FrontlinePlus every single month and we were still pulling a tick or two off here and there....I even found 1 on me! YUUUUUUCK!  

Yes, really bad.  They didn't die even after the first freeze.  The vet was telling me that she's seeing lots of ticks on dogs and tick related issues.  My brother and my dad both have Lyme.  I think the only reason I haven't been bitten yet is because I am soooo on the lookout for them constantly.  There is this one trail near us that would be so nice to take her too but we just can't, she comes home with ticks every time.  We had to stop going.

Frontline Plus for fleas/ticks and it's worked well for my cairn who is highly allergic to flea bites.  Have to use it once the weather warms up. 

Iverhart Plus works for heartworm prevention.

I also use 100% neem oil in their shampoo when I bathe them for added protection (plus skin/coat benefits). Neem can also be mixed into a natural bug spray.

I used this combination last year with Luna & Apollo and didn't see a single tick on them after I started using it. Spot on products scare me. We almost lost our Pomeranian when I was young due to some cheap Hartz flea & tick product.