[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Bare, can you share?

OK CFrance, I'll give it a try. I didn't post the information about the online websites where I buy pet meds because I thought perhaps we weren't allowed to do that on TOTV. I'll try now.

We were using 1800-PetMeds® - Huge Savings and The Best Guarantee. I liked them very much. Excellent customer service and marketing. They would contact our Vet directly for the prescription for the heartworm meds.

We recently switched to Pet Supplies | Dog & Cat Supplies, Pet Meds | DrsFosterSmith.com Pet Products. A friend recommended it and the prices are lower than 1800petmeds. I recently placed a "test run" order for glucosamine for Biggins which works great for his arthritis, sweet potato dog treats for Lollipop which works well for her food allergies, and a few other things. Drsfostersmith offer a lot of their own products at less money, and so far, they seem to be excellent.

All dogs still need to have a yearly blood test at their Vets when they have the annual physical. That's when our Vet writes the prescription for Heartworm medication. And upon request by the online company, the Vet's office faxes the prescription. I don't need to be involved, the online company deals directly with the Vet's office.

We use Revolution for fleas, ticks and heartworm. It's a liquid that you put on their back each month. We find it does a good job. We don't like using chemicals on our dogs every month, no-one does. But it's much better than the possibility of heart worm. Our dogs used to get a break from November until May when we spent winters in Canada, and they didn't need meds in the winter. Now that we're wintering in Florida, they need to be on heartworm meds 12 months a year.

Heartworm seems to be quite prevalent in Florida. Of course there are a lot of mosquitos. Ticks are most prevalent in the north-east US, but they can be anywhere. One of my dogs got ticks when I was living in southern California. We always check our dogs after we've had an outing in the woods.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

OK CFrance, I'll give it a try. I didn't post the information about the online websites where I buy pet meds because I thought perhaps we weren't allowed to do that on TOTV. I'll try now.

We were using 1800-PetMeds® - Huge Savings and The Best Guarantee. I liked them very much. Excellent customer service and marketing. They would contact our Vet directly for the prescription for the heartworm meds.

We recently switched to Pet Supplies | Dog & Cat Supplies, Pet Meds | DrsFosterSmith.com Pet Products. A friend recommended it and the prices are lower than 1800petmeds. I recently placed a "test run" order for glucosamine for Biggins which works great for his arthritis, sweet potato dog treats for Lollipop which works well for her food allergies, and a few other things. Drsfostersmith offer a lot of their own products at less money, and so far, they seem to be excellent.

All dogs still need to have a yearly blood test at their Vets when they have the annual physical. That's when our Vet writes the prescription for Heartworm medication. And upon request by the online company, the Vet's office faxes the prescription. I don't need to be involved, the online company deals directly with the Vet's office.

We use Revolution for fleas, ticks and heartworm. It's a liquid that you put on their back each month. We find it does a good job. We don't like using chemicals on our dogs every month, no-one does. But it's much better than the possibility of heart worm. Our dogs used to get a break from November until May when we spent winters in Canada, and they didn't need meds in the winter. Now that we're wintering in Florida, they need to be on heartworm meds 12 months a year.

Heartworm seems to be quite prevalent in Florida. Of course there are a lot of mosquitos. Ticks are most prevalent in the north-east US, but they can be anywhere. One of my dogs got ticks when I was living in southern California. We always check our dogs after we've had an outing in the woods.

Thanks. I've been getting their catalog for years but never knew they discunted prices. I'll pay more attention now. I see they have Trifexis heartworm/flea and tick prevention.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by CFrance

If I had a 20-lb dog with short hair, I might try that. In fact, I did try that on our first golden, and it cost a hundred dollars to fix him and the house.

I will go with the flea medication (and I believe calling it poison is inflammatory and an attempt to make us believers feel guilty) and keep my 88-lb current golden flea free and Lyme disease free.

Agree, our dog is a small dog, easier to monitor. I was not trying to inflame or guilt trip anyone. If you look at the active ingredient of these medications they are poisons, the same stuff in the big bags you apply to the lawn with a caution to keep the pets away.

I was just giving you another point of view.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by gustavo

If you look at the active ingredient of these medications they are poisons, the same stuff in the big bags you apply to the lawn with a caution to keep the pets away.

I don't think any of us like giving our dogs monthly heartworm medications. I sure don't. But heartworm disease is prevalent in Florida and can be deadly.

Gustavo, if you know another "natural" way to prevent heartworm, please share.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by gustavo

Agree, our dog is a small dog, easier to monitor. I was not trying to inflame or guilt trip anyone. If you look at the active ingredient of these medications they are poisons, the same stuff in the big bags you apply to the lawn with a caution to keep the pets away.

I was just giving you another point of view.

I appreciate your point of view. And perhaps I've been brainwashed by the pet med companies and our vets. But there it is, and I'm afraid to go the non-med route again.

[echo11]

We have switched to Sentinel for heartworm, tick and flea prevention. We used to use Interceptor, but was discontinued. Seems Sentinel is their replacement. We did try Trifexis for almost a year. We had issues with our dog (20 lbs), every few months, throwing it up within a few hours. Also, he was uncomfortable for the day he took it. He is doing better on the Sentinel. We also had issues with Advantix II. Our dog would try to bite at the application site for days. It appeared to be too strong or caustic for him. We now have switched back to Frontline for the ticks. He has long hair and we do not want a tick collar on him. Both products that we use have flea protection. We use them 2 weeks apart.
They are all poison, but the alternative of possible disease is worse- in my opinion.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I don't think any of us like giving our dogs monthly heartworm medications. I sure don't. But heartworm disease is prevalent in Florida and can be deadly.

Gustavo, if you know another "natural" way to prevent heartworm, please share.

My comments were directed towards the flea, tick medicines.

I still use the new "effective" heart worm pill but really don't like it. Especially since my vet told me that they can still get heart worm even when using the monthly pill.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by echo11

We have switched to Sentinel for heartworm, tick and flea prevention. We used to use Interceptor, but was discontinued. Seems Sentinel is their replacement. We did try Trifexis for almost a year. We had issues with our dog (20 lbs), every few months, throwing it up within a few hours. Also, he was uncomfortable for the day he took it. He is doing better on the Sentinel. We also had issues with Advantix II. Our dog would try to bite at the application site for days. It appeared to be too strong or caustic for him. We now have switched back to Frontline for the ticks. He has long hair and we do not want a tick collar on him. Both products that we use have flea protection. We use them 2 weeks apart.
They are all poison, but the alternative of possible disease is worse- in my opinion.

Because of the issues you mentioned, I'd prefer to forego the throwing up and caustic reactions and instead inspect the dog at least every other day for fleas and ticks. It's not really that much trouble if you pet the dog daily you can incorporate the "checking out for crawlers" into the routine. Like I said earlier, if you do see the first sign of a few crawlers a quick bath with Dawn liquid makes short work of fleas.

I have even told my vet about this and although their "official" position is that the dog should get the monthly treatment, the personal response is that as long as there are no fleas/ticks that's the preferred end result and what matters.

Again, no judgement on anyone else, this is just my way, so far so good.