HW, Vaccinations and Flea control

[Lorrie]

As you all may know I am of a very holistic mind when it comes to my furkids, I have spent the past 4 years researching the health and nutrition of our companion animals, things like natural RAW diets, vaccinosis, heartworm, allergies, arthritis, thyroid desease, auto immune disorders and more have all been things that because of dogs in my care I have had a pointed interest in.

My thoughts and opinions are just that .. my thoughts and opinions .. they should be no means be taken as medical recommendations . . please contact your vet if you have questions or concerns. I do however urge you to do some research of your own .. get a referal to a recommended holistic vet .. I believe in a healthy balance of holitic and conventional healing.

My dog Boone has a nasty flea allergy so I have to be very proactive on the "flea front". I only use Advantage as it is NOT systemic. Other products like Revolution and Sentinel are systemic. Meaning they go into the bloodstream and STAY there all month long. Advantage crystalizes on the
skin and does not go into the bloodstream AT ALL.

Sentinel does not kill fleas .. it simply renders then incapable of reproducing AFTER they bite your furkid .. so for a dog with a flea allergy it is useless as it is the bite that causes the reaction.

Revolution is quite new and besides being systemic - I don't like the fact that is hasn't been tested long and was *not* tested long before it was distributed. (On only 300 dogs total from what I could find out) No one knows what long term exposure will do with these drugs - - and according to Dr Dodds there is no known antidote to Revolution. The manufacturer specifically cautions against using on "immature, sick, elderly or debilitated patients" . .

As for Heartworm .. I test twice a year instead of using preventative ..
but if I was living in a different area and the incident of HW was increased I would use plain old Heartguard .. (not the Plus) it is systemic for the 24 hour period that the ivermectin is in the bloodstream. That's ALL. All it does is kill the microfilaria in the bloodstream (the baby heartworm if you will). I would give it every 45 days during mosquito season. I also give them each a capsule of milk thistle (containing 175mg silymarin) every day for 3-5 days beginning the day I administer the HW preventative. Milk thistle will naturally detox the liver and I use it after surgeries, vaccinations or once every couple months just because!

As for vaccinations - I truely believe we are one of the most over vaccinated societies going. Auto Immune disorders and vaccinosis episodes have increased dramatically. I am glad to see that there is a movement with in the Vet community to change vaccination protocols. I do NOT believe in vaccinating older dogs and completely HATE those mombo combo 7 in 1 shots
.. I make my vet split them up! I don't believe pups should be vaccinated
at less then 8 weeks .. then a series of vaccinations is given 3-4 weeks
apart up to 16 weeks of age, this is followed by another vaccination given
sometime after 6mnths of age (usually around 1 yr old). There is significant proof that if a Modified Live Virus (MLV) vaccine is given after 6 months of age it produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet. I then titer yearly and do a 3 yr Rabies.

The Lepto vacc protects against something like 2 of the known 17 strains of the virus (don't have the exact information in front of me) and only for a limited time (6 months). Many breeds had horrible and fatal reactions to theold vacc - I believe less to the new one. Once again - I suggest you ask your vet and if you are not satisfied with the answers - ask another before getting the Lepto vac.

Ok .. climbing off my soapbox now . .

[groupieindenial]

Originally Posted by Lorrie

As you all may know I am of a very holistic mind when it comes to my furkids, I have spent the past 4 years researching the health and nutrition of our companion animals, things like natural RAW diets, vaccinosis, heartworm, allergies, arthritis, thyroid desease, auto immune disorders and more have all been things that because of dogs in my care I have had a pointed interest in.

THANKS! I love to hear what other people have learned from thier research. I'm always open to people's opinions. Mine change periodically because of people like you!

Originally Posted by Lorrie

Revolution is quite new and besides being systemic - I don't like the fact that is hasn't been tested long and was *not* tested long before it was distributed. (On only 300 dogs total from what I could find out) No one knows what long term exposure will do with these drugs - - and according to Dr Dodds there is no known antidote to Revolution. The manufacturer specifically cautions against using on "immature, sick, elderly or debilitated patients" . .

There is one good point to Revolution, that it is only 1 ingredient, that tackles all those things. ALbeit, only kills ticks after 3 days, kinda pointless.

Originally Posted by Lorrie

As for Heartworm .. I test twice a year instead of using preventative ..
but if I was living in a different area and the incident of HW was increased I would use plain old Heartguard .. (not the Plus) it is systemic for the 24 hour period that the ivermectin is in the bloodstream. That's ALL. All it does is kill the microfilaria in the bloodstream (the baby heartworm if you will). I would give it every 45 days during mosquito season. I also give them each a capsule of milk thistle (containing 175mg silymarin) every day for 3-5 days beginning the day I administer the HW preventative. Milk thistle will naturally detox the liver and I use it after surgeries, vaccinations or once every couple months just because!

I have switched from Revolution to the safeheart dose of Interceptor. I didn't just switch because of what i learned from Diane and Gretchen. My vet's clinic and i emailed for days, and then when I went in, we discussed it out over 45 mins. I mean, we talked about every aspect and pros, and cons. And she was honest, but could not totally condone the switch as a clinic. But honestly, her feedback couldn't denounce the findings of the FDA report, and she couldn't get a strait answer from the manufacturer as to WHY they do not support the study anymore. I really think it was all a marketing decision. Sell two products, one with flea control, one with out, full dosage $$$$$$$, versus the safeheart dosage, less money only one product.

Here's the thread, its back up on the board recently.
http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/showthread.php?t=46522

[Miabella]

-Fleas: no flea prevention. My dogs don't have flea allergies, and fleas aren't a big problem here.

-Ticks: Preventic collars

-Heartworm: Interceptor every 45 days, annual tests.

-Vaccines: every 3 years. The next time Hubie is due for distemper, he is getting the single shot rather than the 5-way. Ilsa won't be vaccinated again now that she has Lymphoma.