[Neal2tire]

Kids?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Neal2tire

Kids?

I'm missing the point of your post.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by Neal2tire

Kids?

Huh?

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Bonanza, do you take your dogs to a dog park? I'm wondering where the most likelihood is of picking up fleas. Is a park more likely than just your yard?

We occasionally do take our dogs to a dog park. However, since most of our topical "soil" here is sand, that's where fleas breed. I really don't think it matters whether we have them in our yard or a dog park. It's kinda like 6 of one -- half a dozen of the other -- both of which are basically the same thing.

I think some dogs are more prone to attracting fleas and some not. I had a friend who always had an ongoing problem with them. Perhaps we are simply lucky not to have them; I really don't know why.

As I've said before, I just don't believe in the indiscrimate use of any insecticide unless we have a problem -- for our pets or our house.

[BarryRX]

It's a strong insecticide. There are going to be some problems with some dogs. I think the manufacturer Merial has a money back guarantee, but I'm not sure. Glad your dogs are feeling better.

[rdhdleo]

Originally Posted by Patty55

I found a flea on my dog, first time ever. Did Frontline, I just hate using that stuff.

Now I'm trying food grade diatomaceous earth. Just sprinkle some on when I brush her, so far so good. Haven't seen a flea in months. I'm planning on treating the yard with it too.

Still using Heartgard, mostly because I'm afraid not to. I do every other month instead of monthly. I read somewhere that from the date of bite it takes three months to cause damage, so I figure every other month should cover it. In NY I took them off it for the winter.

Just and fyi, if you are skipping months of Heartguard you dog is not protected, you are taking a huge chance and yes heart worm is seen around here. Heartworm medication is meant to be given monthly and down here year round. I hope you heart worm test your dog since you are leaving the window open fort to get heart worm.

[rdhdleo]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Our vet switched to Trifexis, which is a heartworm/flea combo. While I'm so happy to get away from a topical, which left two greasy marks for days on our golden, I can't get him to eat the Trifexis out of hand. (He wouldn't eat the last chewable heartworm pill either.) So I smash it up and put it in his breakfast. He has no reaction to it.

But boy, does it ever smell musty. I can't imagine what's in it that makes it smell so bad. No wonder he won't eat it.

Just an fyi, both Trifexis and Sentinel are meant to be given with a full meal. If putting it in with their food without mushing it up doesn't work, most people have great success using Pill Pockets. My dogs love them and can't wait to get any pill I give them when I use Pill Pockets.

[rdhdleo]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

Well, much to the chagrin (probably) of the posters on this thread, the only thing we give our gals is Heartguard as a heartworm preventative.

Like Bare, I have a real distaste in using any flea/tick stuff, to ward off the possibility of them having either of those. I simply am not an advocate of using these things unless we have a problem. The treatment/cures are chemicals and poisons and I hate using any of those things unless it's absolutely necessary.

If we happen to get a flea or tick problem, I will treat it at that time. I will go on to tell you that in all the years I have lived in the south (Florida, Bahamas & Louisiana since '83) I have never had a tick problem and only had a flea problem once.

You have been lucky as I have I never use the topicals, as my one dog has a reaction. I do however use Sentinal faithfully for heartworm and fleas. Never had fleas or ticks in my 12 years here. I have seen people who have had flea and or tick infestations though and you can spends hundreds of dollars to get rid of it and it can take months to do so. Just an fyi.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Patty55

Still using Heartgard, mostly because I'm afraid not to. I do every other month instead of monthly. I read somewhere that from the date of bite it takes three months to cause damage, so I figure every other month should cover it. In NY I took them off it for the winter.

Before we wintered in Florida, our dogs used to get an eight-month break every winter from heartworm medication.
Now they are on it twelve months a year, and I feel guilty each month when I put Revolution on their neck because I know it's poison.
If I thought it was safe to use it every second month, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Of course the Manufacturers are going to tell pet owners they must use it monthly, they're in sales!
I wish I knew exactly how it works. Sigh. There is so much misinformation on the internet.

Maybe BarryRX can figure it out for us.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Before we wintered in Florida, our dogs used to get an eight-month break every winter from heartworm medication.
Now they are on it twelve months a year, and I feel guilty each month when I put Revolution on their neck because I know it's poison.
If I thought it was safe to use it every second month, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Of course the Manufacturers are going to tell pet owners they must use it monthly, they're in sales!
I wish I knew exactly how it works. Sigh. There is so much misinformation on the internet.

Well, the manufacturers have the vets convinced, Bare. When I first took Crosby to FL as a puppy, he got a terrible flea infestation even though he had the medicine. They were having a big flea problem in Key West that year, and I was told by the vet there to dose him again. It had only been two weeks. (Didn't) I gave him one of those daily pills & cleaned out the crate and crossed my fingers.

Then last year when he was staying out by Ocala National Forest with a sitter who had a doggie door and several fenced acres for the dogs to play in, the vet here told me to put an extra dose of Avantix on him to cover the possible tick problem. (Didn't)

I wish I knew the real story on flea protection. I'd love to skip it, but 90 lbs & long hair is a lot of dog to watch for fleas on.

[Gerald]

Thank you for the information we will not use the product either

[rdhdleo]

Originally Posted by Gerald

Thank you for the information we will not use the product either

Which product are you speaking of? Yes manufacturers are out to seek their product no doubt about that, however heart worm disease is real and while not a huge problem it can and does happen, heart worm is carried by the mosquito (and yes they exist in The Villages) if your dog contracts it it can kill them and treatment to hopefully save them costs hundreds of dollars. I have seen a number of cases in my 13+ years working part time in a Vet. Ofc. I for one prefer to do what I can to keep my pet as safe as I can.

[Mr Jamie]

My 8 year old German Shepherd also had a bad reaction to the Tri Tak - she vomited for 2 days which is completely abnormal for her. She has the constitution of a goat :-)

I spoke to my Vet about this last Thursday and she contends that it is a rare side effect ( I disagree).

I am about to try NexGard (chewable) ... has anyone had any experience / feedback on this product?