going back east. Dog Medications??

This is going to have to be a personal decision for you based on your tolerance for risk.  You'll have to weigh the risk of chemical exposure with the risk of infestation.  I live on the East Coast and choose to limit my dog's exposure to chemicals and pesticides.  I do not use any chemical based Flea and Tick prevention whatsoever and I give the SafeHeart dosage of Interceptor every 45 days during high risk months only.  I also do not plan to vaccinate beyond the 1 year boosters (providing he maintains high titres) with the exception of Rabies (every 3 years). 
 
 

realize the heartworm tabs act by killing any parasites the pup picked up during the preceding 30 days-- they don't get into the bloodstream and stay there and act as a preventative.   

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

realize the heartworm tabs act by killing any parasites the pup picked up during the preceding 30 days-- they don't get into the bloodstream and stay there and act as a preventative.   

 
Not sure if you're responding to me and my 45 day schedule - just in case you are (and for lurkers) here's the deal:
 
The way that Interceptor (and Heartgard) work: when they are given to the dog, they kill all the microfilarae of heartworm that MIGHT be in the bloodstream, and they will kill that microfilarae up to a certain size. The size that heartworm microfilarae reach after 45 days is still killed by Interceptor or Heartgard. That is why it is safe to give the heartworm meds every 45 days (or every 6 weeks). Some vets think that it might even be effective every 60 days, but there is no agreement on that yet. Sticking with a 45 day dosing schedule is fine as is dosing during "high risk" months only.  I define a high risk month as one in which the temperature has stayed above 57F for longer than 2 weeks.  So, generally speaking I do not dose HW meds during the winter months here in NY.

it really depends on where you are going - here in NC spring is starting, my dog was out in the yard last week and got a few bites so I am back on K9 advantix now, as for HW the vets here all recommend using it year round.  My friend in LI, NY doesn't use flea/tick or HW in the winter.
I don't like using chemicals on my dog but I don't want 'bug' problems and live in a buggy environment - no brainer for me

I'm originally from NJ, and I would:

-give heartworm preventative in the summer, definitely.
-not necessarily worry too much about fleas, although  it does happen.  My family dogs never had a problem with fleas. 

I agree about the vaccines.  Definitely the rabies, but  parvo, for example, is not anything I even heard of until I moved to the South.

I too do the "45 day thing over the summer" . But if you're driving to an unsafe region, giving the heartworm tabs BEFORE you go on the trip won't do any good. You need to give them within 30-40 days after going on the trip. 

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

I too do the "45 day thing over the summer" . But if you're driving to an unsafe region, giving the heartworm tabs BEFORE you go on the trip won't do any good. You need to give them within 30-40 days after going on the trip. 

 
Ohhhh...  right.  I just assumed he was actually *moving* to the East Coast!
 
Mike, is this just a roadtrip?  or will you be living out here? 

I don't know how it's going to work, but I just picked up a natural flea & tick spray at Wal-Mart called "Nature's Miracle" - it comes in both the spray and the kind your rub down their back.  The ingredients seem pretty harmless ... peppermint, cinnamon, lemon grass, clove, thyme.  I think it was about $6 for an 8 oz. spray bottle.  We don't usually have a super bad flea problem here and we don't have ticks in the valley except maybe in heavily wooded hiking areas.
 
Joyce

Joyce, that sounds like a similar blend of EO's to what I use in the summer - works like a charm!!! 

Thanks for all the replies.  i will be just back east for two weeks. I will be in a very heavy tick environment for at least a couple days in southern NY.  I will also be visiting vermont and south to charlottesville Va.  I do want to do heartworm for the whole summer but flea and tick are not that big an issue out hear. Im off to the vet tommarow.
Mike