[LuckyLab]

We actually did go see another vet since the primary couldn’t get us in when his ear infection seemed to worsen. The 2nd doc said the NexGard is safe for most pets but understands my concerns regarding the small percentage of cases where it did cause issues.

He said they do offer Vectra 3D which is a topical formula that you just apply to their skin, similar to Frontline I’m guessing.

I’m still dragging my feet a bit on giving him the Nexgard or ordering the Vectra, I’d really like to see a dag on flea to confirm its an issue before treating it or treating our yard/home. Any way you cut it its better to not do any of those things for the puppy, me and the pregnant wife unless there is, in fact, a problem.

I do feel slightly better about the Vectra since he doesn’t ingest it and think the older he gets the safer it likely is to use on him. He’s almost 10 weeks now and I keep hearing 12 weeks is the benchmark where you can slightly exhale cause their immune systems are stronger and they have had their 3rd round of vaccinations.

I’ll try to work on finding a way to see if he does, in fact, have fleas, you’d think there would be a definitive way to diagnose it.

[anonymous]

I just read your prior posts. It makes sense now. Flea allergy is definitely a possibility. One bite can create havoc and the symptoms you describe. I can see why the vet thinks it is a priority to rule them out.

You may also want to have the place fumigated, especially if you have carpeting.

[LuckyLab]

Not sure this is the right forum but thought I’d give it a run.

My vet suggested our 10-week old pup may have fleas. While we can’t see them he thought it would be advisable to rule that out by starting him on NeXGard.

I thought the idea of a dog ingesting a pesticide so he could excrete it through his skin to kill fleas and ticks sounded strange.

There have been some complaints of the medication and seizures with dogs. My vet confirmed that it had more to do with if the dog had a history of an underlying condition that may cause seizures but being the nervous dog parent thought I’d ask around to see if its commonly used or not.

My wife is pregnant so if her doc says its not safe for her to be around then its a non-starter but it did made me wonder if there was a safer alternative.
Thanks!

[Carol C]

Hello – I have joined this forum as a result of my boyfriend’s dog – a black lab – 4.5 years old – recently has started having seizures. I have been helping take care of him and asked what type of Flea & Tick prevention he was on – it was Frontline for 4 years and now Advantix. We are now having to give him 4 pills a day for anti seizure medicine. We are stopping the topical flea and tick treatment immediately and moving over to Nexguard. Does anyone have a better alternative? We live in Tennessee where there is a huge flee & tick problem.
After reading these blogs, it makes me sick to think that this has been such a wide spread problem with no warnings from Vets or anyone else!
Thank you for offering this great forum to help us provide the best care we can for our loving 4 legged children!

[anonymous]

Most shelters have an arrangement with a local veterinary clinic to get discount prices for services and products as a courtesy. That is the route I would pursue, as you will need a prescription for heartworm preventives.

Regarding garlic pills:
Do a quick Internet search on natural ways to prevent fleas and ticks and you’ll come up with thousands of links. You could spend all day researching these home remedies. The problem: As much as we love using natural solutions when they work, many simply aren’t effective at controlling parasites. In some cases these ‘remedies’ can cause more harm than good for your pet.
So before you add chopped up garlic to your animal’s food or bathe her in essential oils, check out our quick list of home remedies to avoid.
Parasite Prevention and Removal Remedies That Don’t Work
Bad Idea: Putting Garlic in Pet Food
Even though a lot of people think this a safe and effective way to prevent fleas, there’s no scientific evidence that garlic — whether it’s fresh from the bulb, powdered or in a supplement — can keep the parasites at bay. Even worse, garlic can be toxic to pets. Garlic contains substances that damage red blood cells in dogs in cats, potentially leading to life-threatening anemia if ingested in large quantities. (excerpt from:)http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/home-remedies-that-will-not-get-rid-of-fleas-and-ticks-and-may-hurt-your-pet

[Scott Sheffield]

Hi all, I work for a pet shelter and, as summer comes around, a lot of our pets – especially rescues – start to get fleas. This humid weather out here in Georgia is the worst, isn’t it? Anyway, I recently purchased some Generic Capstar (Nitenpyram) from Happy Pet Labs.

I was honestly really happy with the order, since we’re trying to spend less. We got 30 capsules for about $14.99, but since they work so well we’re thinking about buying the 100 capsule count. We bought from them mainly since they’re sponsored by the ASPCA and they gave us a discount since we’re a no-kill shelter.

Anyway, I don’t usually make posts like this but I really feel like we should support small businesses who are just trying to help rescues like us out.

Do you guys know of where we can get tick and heartworm medication that works just as well and is generic/low cost? I’d really appreciate it!

[anonymous]

Just a guess, is your room carpeted? If so, fleas (common allergen) need to be ruled out, also carpets are notorious for harboring dust mites (another common allergen).

[anonymous]

This topic comes up so frequently that I thought I would post this article from LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, it stresses the importance of an accurate diagnosis being the first step in treatment.
“This is the reason that we encourage diagnosis of the underlying cause of the allergy and more specific or less potentially harmful treatments”.

Introduction
Coping with an itchy pet can be an extremely frustrating experience for you, the pet owner and can truly test the limits of the human-animal bond.  Persistent scratching and chewing by the pet can also result in self-excoriation and open wounds.  The following information is intended to provide the pet owner with a basic understanding of the most common underlying causes of itching and allergies in the small animal.
 
The Most Common Causes of Chronic Itching
The common causes fall into two groups: external parasites and allergies.  External parasites that most commonly cause chronic itching dermatitis include fleas and sarcoptic mange.  We often recommend therapeutic trials for sarcoptic mange in chronically and severely itchy dogs.  We always recommend stepped-up flea control and monitoring for fleas, as flea infestation can really make allergy worse!
 
What are allergies?
Allergy is a state of hypersensitivity in which exposure to a harmless substance known as an allergen induces the body’s immune system to “overreact”.  The incidence of allergies is increasing in both humans and their pets.  People with allergies usually have “Hay Fever” ( watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing) or asthma. While dogs can rarely also have respiratory allergies, more commonly they experience the effects of allergic hypersensitivities as skin problems.  Though there are a variety of presentations, this can often be seen as redness and itching, recurring skin or ear infections, and hair loss.  This is sometimes called ‘eczema’ or atopic dermatitis.  

What are the Major Types of Allergies in Dogs?
Flea Allergy
Flea allergic dermatitis is the most common skin disease in dogs and cats.  For the flea allergic patient, 100% flea control is essential for the pet to remain symptom-free.  “But doctor, I never see fleas on my pet.”
 
You may not see them, but that does not mean they are not there.  The allergy is caused by the flea’s saliva, and it only takes a few bites to induce the problem.  Also, the itchy pet often scratches so much that adult fleas are removed, making them hard to find.  “If fleas are the problem, why is my pet still itchy in the winter.” – In warm climates like we have Louisiana, fleas may survive in low numbers year-round.  Because flea allergy is so common, we recommend that complete flea control be instituted before proceeding with diagnostics for other allergies and that year-round flea control be maintained for all allergy patients.

Food Allergy
Some pets develop specific hypersensitivities to components of their diets.  The allergen usually is a major protein or carbohydrate ingredient such as beef, chicken, pork, corn, wheat, or soy.  Minor ingredients such as preservatives or dyes are also potential allergens.  The diagnosis of food allergy requires that we test your pet by feeding special strict diets that contain only ingredients that he has never eaten before. This is often achieved by feeding a prescription diet for a period of 10 – 16 weeks.  If the signs resolve, a challenge is performed by feeding the former diet and watching for a return of the itching.  If this occurs, a diagnosis of food allergy is confirmed.  

Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inherited predisposition to develop skin problems from exposure to variety of commonplace and otherwise harmless substances including the pollens of weeds, grasses and trees, as well as house dust mites and mold spores.  Diagnosis of AD is made based on the results of intradermal skin testing or by in vitro blood testing.  Skin testing is the preferred method; small injections of many different allergens are made in the skin on the pet’s side, under light sedation.  Observation of the reactions helps us compile a list of allergens for a “vaccine” that is made to decrease the pet’s sensitivity.  Sometimes multiple skin and/or blood tests are necessary to accurately assess the patient’s allergies.

Secondary Infections
Allergies are often the underlying cause of recurring skin and/or ear.  Bacterial and yeast infections, though secondary to the allergy, can cause an increase in your pet’s level of itching. Long term treatment with antibiotics and anti-yeast medications is commonly required, along with medicated bathing programs.

Can allergies be cured?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergy and it is usually a life-long problem. We seek to control allergy and improve the quality of life for both you and your pet.  We will formulate the best program of management that suits all involved with your pet’s care.  

Can I have the itching treated without the expense of diagnostic testing?
Symptomatic drug therapy can help to reduce itching.  Steroids, such as prednisone tablets, in particular, are often employed to stop the itch.  However, without addressing the underlying cause, the itching will return.  Long term use of steroids can result in many health problems.  This is the reason that we encourage diagnosis of the underlying cause of the allergy and more specific or less potentially harmful treatments.
– See more at: http://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/veterinary_hospital/services/dermatology/patient_information/allergies_in_dogs.php#sthash.tAEI8WbV.dpuf

[anonymous]

Call the vet and ask him to return your call when he has a minute. Direct your medication question to him.
Discuss what other flea/tick preventives would be appropriate for your pet.
I have one dog that had a localized reaction to a topical (Advantix), mild rash exactly where I applied the topical, no pruritus or other symptoms.
For that dog I am using the Seresto collar, so far it’s working. Years ago I had another dog that developed a rash due to a tick collar, my other dogs had no problem with it.
Every dog is different, and as you have found out, the natural stuff doesn’t work.

As far as medicating with over the counter meds (not intended for veterinary use), I think you should ask your vet, I don’t know your dog’s medical history, age etc.
It depends on how bad the pruritus is, you may want the vet to examine him first…..he may need a shot (immediate relief) if it’s a true allergic reaction.

The Benadryl dose is usually 1mg to 1 pound of dog, example 25 mg for a 25 pound dog, the pills are scored and can be broken in half. Do not use the children’s liquid it contains ingredients that are contraindicated for dogs.
Benadryl at it’s best is mild and often not very effective. If the dog is as uncomfortable as you suggest, I would take her to the vet for a shot.

This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.

Ps: If the dog is red all over, rash on the chest, difficulty breathing or any other concerning symptoms, I would go to the emergency vet, NOW.

[Christie]

Last year my mother’s dog had issues with fleas after natural topical flea preventative didn’t work. She brought her in to the vet and the vet prescribed K-9 Advantix II. The Advantix killed the fleas, but left her with severe itching and pain. The vet said that it wasn’t the topical medicine itself, but the combination of using it with the natural topical. He said to wait a few days and to give her an oatmeal bath if the itching persisted. That it would just eventually run its course out of her system. It took weeks for the itching to stop.

It was the end of the summer when this happened, so we didn’t have to apply any more topical preventative.

Fast forward to this week where my mother put on the Advantix, and lo and behold the incessant itching has returned. The only way the poor dog will sleep is if my mother gently rub her back. She literally rubs the area just above her tail against a dining room chair to get relief.

Is it safe to try giving her Benedryl? She’s about 40 pounds and PetMD suggests 1 mg/ pound for the dosage.

Last year, we tried an over the counter anti-itch spray a few days after the oatmeal bath. Nothing helped but time. I was hoping since Benedryl was internal, it might help where the external spray didn’t?

Any suggestions? Thanks

• This topic was modified 8 years, 6 months ago by Christie.

[Susan]

Hi Heath D
yes I hope your mum has taken the kitten to the vet ASAP, Comfortis will pay the vet bill as long as you have rung them & have proof…….
With any oral Dog & Cat flea meds cause they are giving orally you can’t reverse any side effects, my last cat took Comfortis the vet said only give him 1/2 the Comfortis tablet & give with a full meal breakfast & watch him for 1 hour for any side effects, sometimes they can vomit, then if the cat is OK you give the other 1/2 of the Comfortis tablet with his Dinner, my cat was OK the first time cause I had given in 1/2 doses but then the 2nd time I gave my boy a full Comfortis tablet cause he was OK last time, but this time he was vomiting & vomiting…
My new kitten I use “Revolution” spot on, Revolution seems to be OK for cats, it covers ear mites, fleas, flea eggs & certain worms… & if a cat has a reaction you just wash off the spot on off & take to vet…

[Susan]

Hi Kon88, what type of flea product did your mum use?? was it the spot on liquid type you put on the back of the neck if so wash off straight away or was it a chew or tablet type flea medication you give orally? What new food is she eating?

[Susan]

Hi Randy thank-you for rescuing a Staffy, Staffys are one of the most miss label breeds in the world, Staffy’s are LOVING, very smart, easy to train & love their humans, known as the Nanny Dog early 1900’s in the UK….
My boy Patch is a English Staffordshire Bull Terrier also a rescue, the most friendly dog I’ve ever own, he has to stop & say hello to everyone when on our walks & loooovvvees kids…. When I got him he was in real poor condition, weeing blood, pooing blood, skin problems & now suffers with IBD, skin allergies & food intolerances, some staffys have an iron stomach, while other staffys have sensitive stomach & sensitive skin, like most breeds, so just keep an eye out if your girl does start to itch & scratch, could be she’s sensitive to a food or can be flea or environment allergies…Diet is the key to a healthy pet..
I have feed the “Pro Pac Ultimates” Bayside Whitefish & Meadow Prime Lamb grain free kibbles, Patch did well on both formula’s & had a very shinny coat, kibble was easy to digest & poo’s were nice & firm…. The maker’s Midwestern Pet Foods make “Earthborn Holistic”, “Pro Pac Ultimates” & “Sportmix, Wholesomes ” formula’s

My boy also does real well on “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb, it’s a single protein Lamb Meal with limited ingredients, excellent for sensitive stomach & skin, TOTW has their High Prairie with Roasted Bison & Venison, Canine grain free formula, it’s higher in protein 32%min & fat 18%min, only has 29% carbohydrates… TOTW also has their matching wet tin foods… https://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/

“Costco” sell Kirkland Signature, Nature Domain, Salmon & Sweet Potato is made by TOTW & is the same as the TOTW Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon formula & cheaper…. 39lb for $39.49 http://www.kirklandsignaturepetsupplies.com/natures-domain-brand

There’s also “Canidae” Pure formula’s Pure Wild Boar is really good. http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/ products

I would start with a formula that’s not too high in fat & protein, the TOTW Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb, has 1 protein Lamb meal & limited ingredients & the fat-15% & protein-25% is moderate, not too low or high, or Kirkland Signature “Nature Domain” formula’s or Pro Pac Ultimates Bayside Whitefish, just incase she was feed a low quality kibble that was low in fat & protein, this way she shouldn’t have any Intestinal Stress while being introduce to a better quality formula’s…. Slow & steady is best & then start rotating between a few different brands with different proteins, this will strengthen her immune system…
also follow “Rodney Habib” on his face book page, he has really good info on Pet Nutrition, how to read dog food when reading the ingredient list video, he does easy to follow videos, there’s 1 video Rodney has, showing just by adding 2 spoons of fresh whole foods to your dogs bowl of kibble reduces the risk of her getting cancer & other health problems later in life, tin Sardines, Salmon, Tuna in spring water, give fresh meaty bones twice a week for her teeth, chicken bones are nice & soft & easy to digest…. Save the Rodney Habib “DIY health tips” link I posted above, it’s has really helpful information & all his videos he has made….. https://www.planetpaws.ca/category/diy-pet-health-tips/

Please post some photos of your new girl & her name….take a photo when you get her then after you’ve had her for 6months see the different after being feed a healthy diet…

[Kona88]

My dog JUST had her first episode of this last night and had another one this morning. I didn’t bring her to the vet because she didn’t seem to be in pain and I honestly just thought she swallowed a hair and it got stuck and was trying to eat anything she could to maybe dislodge it and help it move down her throat. Plus it subsided in a few minutes. It hopefully won’t be a chronic problem, but so far the only people that have this issue seem to be dealing with it over a long period of time so now I’m nervous. I adopted her 3 weeks ago and she is a 1 year old 50 lb mixed breed (looks maybe part chocolate lab or German short haired pointer). I also volunteered at the shelter she was at and in the month she was there, I never noticed an episode. I have a few things I wanted to add to the discussion to see if any one else experienced anything similar.

The first is that she frequently gets hiccups…..was wondering if anyone else’s dog with this problem also does?

Another is that I changed her diet almost 2 weeks ago which is sort of recent, but I feel like symptoms would have shown earlier if it was triggered by her food. She also stayed at a family member’s house for a few days and I just got her back a few days ago, but while she was there she had really bad diarrhea, which we attributed to her getting into the dog food at their house. Once she got home her stomach still seemed a little agitated, but her stools were solid again. She has been a little gassy, but gets especially gassy in conjunction with these gulping fits.

The last thing I have to add is that a couple days ago, my mom thought she noticed a flea in the house so she gave all of our animals a dose of some otc topical flea and tick medicine. I am not sure if the dogs at the shelter got flea and tick medicine or not, and if so then what type/when she had her last dose, but I do know that this is the first dose she has gotten while she has been with me and it is the closest change in anything we give to her to these episodes. I noticed that someone said these fits sort of come in monthly waves and I was wondering if they maybe come close to when they give their monthly flea/tick preventative or if they’ve tried changing or withholding their dog’s preventative to see if it stops the gulping fits? I am thinking it could be some sort of weird reaction to the medicine…

[Christine S]

My 12 year old golden was hospitalized for pancreatitis in January. Blood tests and ultrasound also showed an infected gall bladder; it was twice its normal size. She was treated with Enroflaxacin, Metronidazole and Ursodiol with 20 mg Famotidine 2 x a day and put on a strict GI diet. I’ve been giving her Purina EN Gastroenteric and Hills ID GI Chicken and Vegetable Stew, 4 meals per day. The vet said we should just keep her on that to ensure pancreatitis doesn’t return. Ultrasound and blood tests since then show she has recovered and indicate that she’s got no other issues, except we can’t see the stomach. The thing is, I noticed that between a half-hour to 2 hours after eating, she starts panting and yawns. She also bow stretches several times throughout the day. I can tell she’s uncomfortable but she doesn’t vocalize and she always looks forward to eating. She’s also gotten pretty sluggish on our walks. Until the pancreatitis she would always trot and I could barely keep up with her, and I walk fast. Now she’ll trot some then slow down to a crawl and walk with her mouth open, I can hear her huffing so I think she’s uncomfortable. We’ve tried several times to treat with omeprazole including liquid Carafate, but she got diarrhea so we stopped it. This last time we got her on 8 days of the omeprazole before the diarrhea hit. The vet now thinks the diarrhea is a food intolerance to something in her diet. So it would have to be one or both the GI foods, or the boiled chicken we were giving as treats. I’ve since eliminated the chicken, so she’s not getting any treats. I should also add that she’s getting canned food, not kibble because she would pant heavily after the kibble, even when moistened. Anyway, the vet recommended Royal Canin Hydrolized Protein (RCHP). I transitioned her on that over a period of 5 days based on vet’s recommendation. On her 3rd solid day of only RCHP, we opened a can at lunch and noticed it had a fishy smell. Piper started to eat it then suddenly stopped and wouldn’t finish it. Nothing except the severe pancreatitis attack stops her from eating. She always looks forward to eating. I offered some EN and she gladly ate that, so there was something wrong with the RCHP. I opened another can and I thought it smelled ok but my fiancé said it didn’t and wouldn’t let me give her anymore. So I had to get her back on the EN. The thing is it seemed as though it was helping. It seemed like she wasn’t panting as much, and she wasn’t scratching her ears as much or at all which is something I hadn’t really paid much attention to with all the other symptoms. She hasn’t had ear infections and other than biting at her hind ankles occasionally, she doesn’t show signs of allergies. (She doesn’t have fleas.) I read through a ton of responses to other posts and thought I would try Natural Balance LID Duck and Potato, because it wasn’t $5 a can and it had low fat, or so I thought. I didn’t realize that the fat content wasn’t converted like it was for the GI foods, which I learned after reading many of Susan’s posts. I only gave her about 1/4 cup and she really looked uncomfortable after that, I’m guessing due to the fat content. She also had really bad gas. So she’s back on strictly EN until I figure out what to do next. Honestly I’m afraid to try anything else but I really don’t like the ingredients in the vet prescription diets and she’s been on them since January. I don’t see us cooking her food and I have some reservations about going back to raw given the possibility of inviting bad bacteria into the mix. My other concern is should I give her antacids or not? A dog that doesn’t make enough stomach acid can have the same symptoms as one with too much stomach acid. The vet said it would be rare for her not to have enough stomach acid and thinks we should try the omeprazole again. I’d like to know she needs it before giving it to her because it seemed like it would make her more lethargic. Is there a test without having to scope her? I thought about trying a novel protein but would have to go with goat or kangaroo as she’s eaten just about everything else, in every form, due to our other dog being an extremely picky eater (a Hovawart.) I would love to hear your suggestions, or any ideas you have based on her symptoms. Treating GI issues really is difficult, especially when you’re the only one in the house that thinks her panting and yawning are signs of discomfort!!

[Susan]

Hi, so sad I also rescued a bully bread (Staffy) & Patch was vomiting up undigested kibble 8hrs later also, they have a very un healthy gut….who said she needs soft pallet surgery?? this isn’t the case, her food isn’t being digested, so the body rejects the un digested food & vomits, kibble is the hardest food to digest, no matter what the vet diet dry kibbles say on the front of the bag, raw/cooked & wet tin food digest quicker & are easier to digest then a high carb dry kibble….
if you can borrow the money find a good vet who can do or organize a Endoscope + Biopsies of the stomach, you need to do the biopsies to see what’s wrong in her
stomach & why she isn’t making enough Hydrochloric acid, my boy had the Helicobacter-Pylori + IBD…or ask a vet can he give you the triple therapy meds for Helicobacter-Pylori infection, the meds are: Metronidazole, Amoxicillin & Omeprazole, these meds will fix the stomach & kill any bad bacteria in the gut, but the Helicobacter will come back, Ive been fighting Patches for 3 yrs until he was left on Omeprazole ant acid med this finally helped Patch & a low carb diet
….cause she isn’t digestion her kibble it’s best to change both kibbles especially the Vet Diet they’re crap TRUST ME they do not go soft within 50mins the Hills vet diet kibbles & Royal Canin kibbles take 1-2 hours to go soft but not all the way through, so the kibbles just sit in her stomach so she vomits the undigested kibble back up cause her stomach isn’t working properly,
its called “Hypochlorhydria” low stomach acid where the Helicobacter breeds & lives, she needs meds the ones I mentioned above triple therapy to kill the Helicobacter infection & a diet low in carbs preferably gluten free & more meat then carbs so kibble isn’t good to feed.
… a lot of rescue dogs have Helicobacter cause of their poor diet while growing up also she could of left her mum way to early & never got all the proper nutrients from her mums milk that’s needed for a healthy stomach, now you need to make her gut healthy you do this once her triple therapy meds are finished…
If you want to feed a vet diet feed the wet tin foods like Hills vet diet I/d Chicken & Vegetable stew but Hills have stopped making the big cans of I/d Chicken & Vegetables Stew in Australia & now only make a small 156g can instead.. Patch needs 8 cans a day, you cant afford 8 small tins a day, so he gets 2 cans a day & gets his Canidae or Taste Of The Wild lamb kibble… or buy some chicken breast & sweet potatoes & cook & freeze meals
“Canidae” make very easy to digest kibbles like Canidae Life Stages, Chicken Meal & Rice, “Canidae Pure Meadow” it’s a senior kibble but it won’t matter she’ll get extra Omega 3 & DHA fatty acids & glucosamine in her diet for her bones & it has higher protein & less carbs what is needed for easy digestion & it’s Chicken, Chicken meal & Turkey Meal & Sweet Potato same ingredients as she is eating at the moment BUT will be easier to digest cause the protein is higher…
Start testing her kibbles, get a glass of very warm water, not boiling water just very warm water, add about 2-3 kibbles to the glass of water, does the kibbles float? a good kibble should float & how long does it take for the kibbles to go soft all the way thru?? a good easy to digest kibble should only take about 15-40mins to go soft all the way thru… another very easy to digest kibble is “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb, its a single protein limited ingredient kibble & grain free as well, after Patch tried all the crappy vet diets that didn’t digest easy like they say they do, finally 3 yrs later I tried TOTW Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb & finally Patch started to get better, gain weight & he did the triple therapy meds 3 times as its very hard to kill this Helicobacter-Pylori, he still takes the Metronidazole a low dose 200mg with food on & off when I see he’s going down hill & getting his acid reflux bad again, he takes the Omeprazole (Losec) 8.30am every day now, it’s a ant acid medication cause they don’t make enough stomach acid, the helicobacter breeds & takes over their stomach & lives in the stomach walls & keeps breeding they get bad acid reflux, vomit, eat grass, feel sick, loss weight & cant digest their food properly, she probably gets bad acid reflux as well this is why she is thin & under weight, she needs a IBD Specialist vet….her vet doesn’t seen to be working out why she is thin & why she isn’t digesting her food & vomiting ?? she’s young her gut should be healthy so something has happened in her past her mum may have past on the Helicobacter infection, Ive had it & its awful you feel so hungry all the time & your stomach gets a norring feeling, you need a vet that will listen & knows about IBD..
yes don’t desex her yet she she’s too sick, my poor boy was desexed, vaccinated, wormed, flea, all on the same day that’s what happens here in Australia when a rescue dog is rescued from a pound before going to their career, its straight from the pound to the vets then career…Patch was too sick to be adopted & I fell in love with him & adopted him…..
Your girl needs 4-5 meals a day not 2 big meals, Patch gets 5 meals a day 7am, 9am 5pm he gets 1/2 cup kibble one of the kibbles I mentioned above & at 12pm & 8pm he gets the Hills I/d Chicken & Vegetable Stew wet tin food…he was getting a cooked meals but last March he started to vomit up the cooked lean pork mince & sweet potato again so he got put back on the Metronidazole & was already taking the Omeprazole ant acid meds & I asked vet can I try the Hills I’d Chicken & Vegetable stew can it has digestive enzymes in it..
Watch her does she lick lips/mouth & swallow, burp? my boy grinds his teeth when he gets his acid reflux, when I first got Patch he was licking & licking his paws continually of a night when he was at his worst, his vet said the licking paws sets off his endorphins then
he would burp….

[Susan]

Hi, I do not use any Heartworm meds or flea meds, I do live Australia & have hot Summers we do get mozzie’s after the rains in Summer but Patch is an indoor dog & doesn’t sleep outdoors, chances of an infected mosquito biting him is very slim, Patches vet hasn’t seen any heartworm cases in my area in 26yrs…she doesn’t seem concerned that Patch isn’t heartworm……Contact your local vets & ask has there been any resent cases of heartworm in your area??…..

[pitlove]

For me personally, I prefer to use a heartworm prevention that only contains the ingredient that kills off the heartworm (Ivermectin, Moxidectin etc). I also give flea and heartworm meds separately.

But considering I live in the South and we haven’t had a real winter in a few years down here, I do heartworm prevention all year round. I know some don’t, who live in states where there is a real winter. That is something I would talk with your vet about.

[anonymous]

Depends on the area you live in and what the veterinarian who treats your dog prefers.
Btw: It is best to buy heartworm/flea/tick preventives from your vet’s office rather than online, for a bunch of reasons.

[anonymous]

No, I am not aware of any “natural” heartworm or flea/tick preventives that are effective.
Also, if the dog tests positive for heartworm, the treatment that works to save the dog’s life is very harsh. Same with Lyme disease, nasty disease if not caught early.

Some science based information you may find helpful here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=heartworm
Nothing is being sold at that site, no supplements, no books, no miracle cures, no membership fees………

[anonymous]

Heartgard s for heartworm prevention. What about flea/tick prevention………

[Marie P]

I was buying that brand from Amazon a few years ago. Now I try to go all Natural. Here is the Natural Flea collar recipe I use. Works great if your dog is not a DEEP woods hiker.. Perfect for the dog who is yard bound… SEE here http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2017/05/dog-flea-spray-recipe-fleas-and.html

[Michael M]

Amazon has gotten too expensive since they started kicking out all the little guys. Even eBay can be bad, but not as much. I recently got the generic nitenpyram from Happy Pet Labs. It seems to also work just as well as the big brands. I bought this one here: https://happypetlabs.com/collections/flea-medicine-for-flea-control/products/nitenpyram-12mg-for-cats-and-dogs

They also had one for bigger dogs. https://happypetlabs.com/collections/flea-medicine-for-flea-control/products/nitenpyram-57mg-for-cats-and-dogs

I also like LCD’s products, their lufenuron is excellent. But yeah, it seems like any of these should do.

[anonymous]

It is not unusual for dogs (certain breeds like labs) to develop benign fatty tumors, I would guess it was more genetic than related to diet. What did your vet say?

Flea/tick/ heartworm prevention is important, discuss what would be best to use with your vet. There is an increase in Lyme disease (humans and dogs) and tick borne disease.

[Karyn G]

My mix pup started having seizures at age 2.5, she was also diagnosed with severe allergies at 6 m. She was on Heartguard and Nexgard. We made the connection that one of the 2 were a catalyst. The box on the Nexguard stated that it should not be given to dogs with seizures, so why didn’t the vet know that??? Last month we changed her to Frontline Gold last month. No problems on that dose. She went without a seizure for over a month, which was miraculous. Well, I gave her Frontline Plus on Sunday May 7th, and this morning, May 8th she had a grand mal at 4:45 am and a tremor seizure at 4:54 am. I am just now finding out by this blog that other dogs are experiencing the same issue with Frontline. I will be looking for a natural flea control medicine. Any suggestions???

[Susan]

Hi another thing I forgot to mention it’s not just a dogs diet that matters also Flea products stay away from all the new flea chews & tablets like Bravecto, Nexgard & Comfortis any flea products that need to be taken orally… cause you have senior dogs your dogs may have under lying health problems giving any of these new oral flea products can lead to major health problems that can’t be reverse, some of these flea products stays in the dogs system for over 4 months…. best not to give any chemicals…
Two years ago Patch made a new friend at the park, she was a 12yr old Border Collie, always at the park every morning 7-730am chasing & rounding up her ball & bringing her ball back to her owner, then one day I saw her owner walking all by himself looking so lost & sad, I said where’s your girl, she not playing ball this morning, he said she passed away, I asked what happened she looked great the other morning, he said, I took her to the new vets on the corner, cause she was real itchy & kept scratching around her lower back & tail, the vet gave her a steroid injection & Comfortis tablet, then that night she wouldn’t eat, she went down hill, he took her back to the vet & she had Liver failure…..this poor dog was so healthy, she was never sick a day in her life…..
also make sure they’re getting daily exercise…. add foods that are high in omega 3 fatty acids like tin sardines in spring water, tin salmon, almonds a dog can have 3 almonds a day, berries are great, green lipped mussels, I buy the K-9 Natural green lipped Mussels freeze dried & the Ziwi Peak air dried formulas are great….
google foods high in omega 3 fatty acids, sardines are excellent for their joint’s, bones, brain, heart & eyes…

[Cameron M]

I never said I was going away as long as you keep spouting nonsense. If you want to be helpful how about telling people what you consider safe and effective along with warning them away from certain products??

But no..you actually don’t want people to use any flea control because you really believe they are all dangerous…right?

Your inflated ego has you thinking you actually know science ( you don’t) and you seem to think you know better than the FDA, EU and Australia combined.

Post away Jane and I will meet you word for word because you are actually dangerous!

Yep …such a shame.

[Cameron M]

Well we agree on diet anyway…good for you. I aso steer away from processed foods.

I also stated pages agaon that when I lived in South Eastern PA I never saw a flea…we never used any flea treatments. I could probably get away with no flea treatments in VT as well but there I have tons of ticks to worry about and they carry Lyme. In fact my one dog recently tested positive for Lyme and I placed on her on 3 months of antibotics…

Your hard work natural method will not work here in FL…one 100% will not work because there are so many fleas you can’t even imagine. Sure I could spray poison all over my yard but I refuse to do so. If I didn’t use flea control my baby would be literaly covered with fleas each time she went outside.

Sorry …I won’t subject my dog to that torture and disease risk.

Your right…I would not believe in Bigfoot because there is no such thing…period!

[Becca]

I already told you what I use for fleas and ticks it’s called hard work it takes a few minutes a day to check your dog daily get a flea comb use a vacuum use vetri science which is what my vet wants me to use. I put one drop of rose geranium oil in coconut oil cause coconut oil as a carrier oil and you put that around their neck to deter ticks. Nothing is 100% nothing.

[Cameron M]

Again …WHAT DO YOU RECCOMMEND FOR FLEA CONTROL?

If you can’t say basically you are as useless as one old wrinkled sock.

Come on…please share…what do you use for fleas and ticks?

Wow…you watch the bigfoot show?? amazing…I haven’t actually met anyone who did but I kinda suspected it was your type show:)

[Cameron M]

Jane is extremely helpful in citing reports as though they were facts…which in many cases leads to false assumptions. A report that Bigfoot was sighted is not a fact.

The fact is that if there were actually all these horrible deaths and side effects the drug would be pulled or the FDA would immediately order a full review…something that is not happening as far as I am aware.

The sad part is many come here to decide what flea treament to use and all they get is fear of ANY flea treatment…this one is bad…that one kills dogs left and right…oh noo…for god’s sake don’t use that one blah blah blah.

Mixed in is the under current…well fleas aren’t all that bad ( yes…some misguided person actually said that in so many words…ask really what diseases are spread by fleas ( lots and lots))

The push is for natural organic …which by the way I swear by organic in my life when I can…it doesn’t work down south period end of discussion.

So people coming here for genuine information on WHAT TO USE are scared witless and are afraid to use ANY flea control which in turn makes the poor dogs suffer,

Get facts not junk science out

[Cameron M]

No…I can’t allow you and your ilk to spread false rumors period. You have no clue as to science and spread fear without being helpful to those who seek effective flea control.

One of your vocal group actually dismissed any flea control…another suggested organic (fine if it works in some areas but it doesn’t work down South).

One misguided anti Bravecto woman actually suggested that she used spot treatments which as well all know contains the exact same poison as roach spray..( great…very safe and logical)

When the mood strikes and the conversation turns to killing ticks as a benefit the anti group then flip flops and claims Bravecto really isn’t all the effective in killing ticks or helping prevent Lyme disease…even going so far as to cite claims that LIVE ticks were found on dogs given Bravecto.

Now flipping again when fear suits your needs the anti group cites examples of Bravecto killing a tick 9 months after the last dose was given…alluding to how utterly harmful and scary the drug must be to still be working 9 months later ( which is utter nonsense by the way)

Whe you stop spreading fear and start talking science ( and as I pointed out reports are not to be confused with scientific fact) I will gladly stop posting.

For some reasonyou think you own the blog…sorry…you don’t

[Jane L]

I thought you said you were shutting up at least ten comments ago?

I reply to other people that ask questions not trolls but one thing I will say to you is yet again you are talking total rubbish. The Bravecto group never ever said it does not kill ticks. It’s a very efficient killer. It’s the fact that a tick takes up to 12 hours to die that is the issue and that because of this many dogs still get tick diseases.

I wish if you bother to comment you would get your facts straight as Merck confirm this and it’s listed in data sheet under the cons.

PARASITIPEDIA

“Detailed information on the toxicity and the fate of fluralaner in the dog’s body (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and in the environment is scarce.

Due to their recent introduction there is very little knowledge on tolerance in different dog breeds or in young, old or otherwise weak animals.

There is so far little information available on this active ingredient. It is similar to Afoxolaner, another active ingredient introduced by MERIAL (NEXGARD) recently approved in the US and the EU.

“Fluralaner is available for oral administration to dogs, i.e. it has a systemic mode of action. Ingested fluralaner is rapidly absorbed into blood and distributed throughout the whole body of the treated dog. Blood-sucking parasites (mainly fleas and ticks) are killed during their blood meal.

But the systemic mode of action means also that for fleas and/or ticks to be killed, they have to bite the dog first and suck enough blood before the ingested active ingredient kills them. Whether killing is fast enough to prevent disease transmission is not yet known.”

• This reply was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by Jane L.
• This reply was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by Jane L.

[Susan]

Yes Marcia you’re right, there’s 3-4 pages of crap & arguing….
Where is “DOG FOOD ADVISOR” Please remove all the bitching comments & leave up the links “Jane” provided, so when people do come onto DFA to look up Bravecto they can read links & make their own minds up…
People PLEASE realise Bravecto does stay in the dogs system longer then the 3 month period, I posted a post just before all the arguing started & Jane backed it up with links…
In Australia vets are recommending to give Bravecto every 4 months instead of the 3 months & if you do not live in a tick infected area & are using Bravecto for fleas then stop giving Bravecto in the cooler months… They have tested dogs that take Bravecto & the dogs still had fluralaner in their system 143 days later…no further test have been released to the public to my knowledge but I bet the fluralaner stays in the dogs system heaps longer then the 143 days….how you’d know if you stop giving the Bravecto chews, see how long it takes for your dog to get fleas & see when there’s a tick on your dog are they dying or dead. One lady found dead tick 9 months later after she had stopped the Bravecto cause her 4yr old dog became ill….
If you have an elderly dog, dog with health problems or a dog that has seizures or Epilepsy please do your research first before giving any Bravecto chews to your dog, read Janes links..

If people still want to argue their point there are 2 live groups on Face Book one is for Bravecto- “Does Bravecto Kill Dogs?” the other group is for Nexgard- “Does Nexgard kill dogs?”

[Marcia]

I couldn’t even get to the end of this thread before I commdnted. I have 4 dogs, all born in 2011. For flea and tick control, I at first used Frontline, but one of my pups started having horrible reactions for up to 12 hours after – I think she was itching or burning, or both. I tried Advantix. Omg so much worse. My other 3 even reacted. My vet recommended Bravecto, so I put them all on it and have noticed no issues. My babies are my heart and I am very attentive to their moods, eating habits, etc. I do not give Bravecto all year round – 2 to 3 doses a year. I live in WI so even though the vet says I should give it year round, I won’t because I want them to have a break from it and the winter months are less risky for fleas/ticks. Same with heartworm meds, I stop in late fall. I have a woodsy backyard which they spend a lot of time in in good weather, and, I run them every other day for a mile and a half at nature reservoir with 3 large ponds – lots of grasses, weeds, reeds, waterfowl, and other wildlife, as well as scat from other dogs that run there. So I want them to be protected. I have never found a flea or a tick on any of them, nor has their groomer. My sister runs her dogs with me, and she has found dead ticks about 3x in 6 years. She uses topical flea and tick control, I believe.

As many of you have said, we all have to choose what we feel is right for our situation and our babies. Factors like geography, general health of our pups, their age, their breed, etc., our own financial and living situations that also factor into these decisions. No 2 people will have the same circumstances.

Being snarky and using thinly veiled insults only produces more of the same, and draws negative energy to yourself. Be kind to each other. We’re all here to help each other and learn from each other because we have infinite love for the creatures who depend upon us. Show some of that compassion and respect to each other.

[Cameron M]

Yes they did! And I agree with you! My rescue cocker was covered with fleas…actually had a deformed tail and injuries from the constant itch. Pure hellish torture to her but gee …don’t tell the organic ones here. To them fleas are a mere note.

Yes disgusting and ignorant to boot!

[Susan W]

You just don’t stop. No one ever said every report is a direct result of Bravecto. But you have not written to the ema and read the reports. Lots of details and many and reactions that appear possibly and probably biased by Bravecfo per the NCA. By the exerts that evaluate them. Who then required a targeted safety study be conducted on Bravecto. No other flea and tick medicine.

[pitlove]

Did someone on this thread actually say they would rather their dog be infested with fleas than use an insecticide flea and tick preventative? I’m sorry, but that is sick…Have you ever seen a dog infested with fleas, how sick they are? How dehydrated? How miserable they are? How the life is being sucked out of them by these parasites? Go volunteer in a shelter for a couple days before you say something SO ridiculous. Disgusting…

[Cameron M]

Doom and gloom is watching my pet die of tick born illness, or suffering from fleas or being in agony from topical poisons applied to the skin then ingested while licking.

Becca…cite facts not conjecture or unfounded opinion

[Cameron M]

Judy – you ask for the article which stated 44k dogs died due to spot treatment for fleas and ticks. I haven’t had a chance to complete my search to find it again but what I did find was a 2009 Scientific American article which has the below quote:

Most of the problems were minor, such as skin rashes, but about 600 dogs and cats died in the incidents reported in 2008, EPA records show.

So 600 dog and cats in 1 year…ok…my statement of 44k may be a low number huh?

Never use a spot treatment. Use oral it is far better.

I agree that in parts of the nation pet owners can get by with no treatment. I grew up in South Eastern PA and in my little corner of PA I never once saw a flea on my dogs…in fact I really didn’t ever see a flea until I moved to FL ( and so you know…we never sprayed for pests nor treated our dogs for fleas…heartworm yes…fleas no) Likewise in VT there are very few flea BUT there are lots of disease carrying ticks.

Bravecto does kill ticks quickly enough to stop transmission of disease ( per the studies). My dog seems fine on her 1st dose of Bravecto…the earth didn’t open up and swallow her but the fleas did die:)

Again..I caution all..I do not plan to give this drug to my gal year round..instead it is my go to for the bad months here in FL and ticks at our 2nd home in VT…thereafter she goes back on Sentinal and I even give that a break if she is up north when snow is on the ground.
Use your heads people…I can dig up stories of people dropping dead from drinking too much water to quickly. Don’t let the sky is falling folks scare you from reading good science and I encourage everyone to do just that. Research, research and then some more…check out the EPA sites…check out the FDA sites but do not listen to the misquoted gloomand doom posted here.

[Susan]

Hi,
Do you remember Dori she had 3 little white dogs all girls, I think Maltese Terriers,
the eldest girl had a lot of sensitivities & couldn’t take most flea, heartworm meds, Dori also lived in an area where mozzie where bad all year round…Dori found Sentinel Spectrum didn’t cause any side effects, with her 16 yr old sensitive girl..
Google & see does Sentinel Spectrum have the same ingredients as the Heartgard has??
Sentinel is safe to use with puppies from 6 weeks old as well as pregnant & lactating females, Sentinel might use different ingredients to the Heartgard…
Good Luck

[Jane L]

You must be joking. 20 years ago was not the dark ages and we went to the vet in the 60’s to 90’s and would know if a dog had cancer. Dogs also did not all have allergies then as so many do now.

Cancer is caused by the carcinogens in kibble, imported Chinese treats, over vaccination and toxic flea and tick products.

[Becca]

My family myself and my extended family all had pets growing up there were no neurotoxins, topicals, orals to give your dog at that time none of them had ever had a disease from a flea.

[Becca]

I’ve dealt with many flea infestations rather than use conventional methods.
It come down to money not the health of your pet. They are making way too much money to care about your pet. It is just like the vioxx. They said right out they were making too much money to be concerned with the “few” death caused by it.

Vets always tell you it was an underlying illness, not their toxins. Kind of funny when a perfectly healthy dog, normal liver enzymes, perfect kidneys, dies within 3 months of taking the oral toxin

[anonymous]

Excerpt from: https://www.petcarerx.com/article/what-diseases-do-fleas-cause/163
Fleas may be extremely small, but dangerous things sometimes come in small packages. Guard your dog against the many diseases that fleas carry and transmit.
You may think that these tiny pests only make your pet do a little scratching and itching, but fleas actually cause a number of diseases, some of which can be fatal. By not protecting your pets from fleas, you are exposing them and yourself to severe health risks. Here are some of the diseases your pet could contract:
Plague
Yes, this is the same plague that caused the death of over a third of the European population back in the Middle Ages. While it’s no longer common for humans to get the plague, your pet can still become infected. A flea that has taken a bite out of a infected wild animal, like a prairie dog, chipmunk, or vole, can easily infect a dog or cat and pass along the disease.

Plague-infected cats and dogs will have a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and may even die suddenly without much warning. If you think your pet has the plague, you need to contact your veterinarian immediately and isolate your pet from other animals as to stop the plague from spreading.
Cat Scratch Disease
While Cat Scratch Disease usually does not affect cats in a negative way, it puts their owners at risk. Fleas transmit CSD from one cat to another, and close to 40% of cats will carry this disease at some time in their lives. Humans get CSD when infected flea feces on a cat’s claws or fur is transmitted from the pet to their owner through a bite, lick, or scratch. CSD can cause fever, headaches, and fatigue in humans, as well as make those with a weakened immune system seriously ill.
Tapeworms
How does a dog biting a flea end up with your pet carrying tapeworms? Simple. If the dog eats a flea that is carrying tapeworm eggs inside their bodies, then that pet could soon become infected. Once inside your dog, the tapeworm hatches and attaches itself to your pet’s intestines, causing weight loss, vomiting, and irritation.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
All it takes is one bite from a flea to cause Flea Allergy Dermatitis, leading to hot spots and extreme itchiness for your pet. Dog hot spots are infected patches of circular skin that could soon become a big wound if your pet continues to itch and bite at it. Even your dog’s tongue licking the wound spreads the bacteria around. If your dog has a hot spot, you should take them to see your vet as soon as possible.
Haemobartonellosis
While usually transmitted by ticks, haemobartonellosis can also be carried by fleas. The disease targets red blood cells and can range from mild to very severe symptoms. If very severe, haemobartonellosis can cause cats to suffer anemia that results in weight loss and a fast heart rate. In some cases, infected cats have been observed eating dirt, and without treatment, cats can die from this disease.

Haemobartonellosis is most likely to affect dogs who have had their spleens removed. It can cause loss of appetite and weight loss for our canine friends.

What’s the best way to keep your pet from suffering from any of these afflictions? Treating them for fleas, of course! There are many options you can choose, from spot on solutions to oral pills. Decide which one is best for your pet, and keep them healthy year round!

[Jane L]

I don’t have a way if addressed to me. Never find a need to use any chemical flea or wormer but if I did Bravecto, Nexgard & Trifexis would be the last on my list and I would prefer a flea infestation to feeding neurotoxins to any dog of mine.

[Jane L]

There are some 🙂

http://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/4-surprising-flea-diseases-you-need-know

Highly unlikely though I would imagine but just saying before Cameron does 🙂

[Becca]

Name an actual disease that a dog has gotten from fleas if you say typhus I mean that was the 19 hundreds

[Becca]

Like I said on another one of my post it did not show up I’ve had three dogs recently two of which were not vaccinated against Lyme and one that was vaccinated against Lyme the one that was vaccinated against lyme got lyme. the other two very furry animals with lots of ticks did not get lyme. My vet is both does both medicines conventional and holistic she will not even sell topical or oral flea treatment she does sell stuff for heartworm but not any topicals or Orals because they’re dangerous to does minimal vaccinations her treatments are based on facts. All of my animals have had reactions to topical and orals.

[anonymous]

I used natural stuff. Within 5 months I had 3 dogs that had previously tested negative for Lyme, test positive. All 3 received the antibiotic protocol as per the treating vet. Two had no symptoms and passed due to unrelated issues years later.
The third one wasn’t so lucky, the Lyme caused kidney damage. So, I spent 2 years doing everything I could to keep her comfortable $$, daily subq fluids, meds, trying to keep uremia at bay.
It was ugly.
So, good luck to the homeopathic believers. I choose science based veterinary medicine.
I would rather risk side effects to heartworm/flea/tick preventatives than to see what Lyme disease can do.
And yes, fleas can cause serious illness and disease.
I have found this site very helpful http://skeptvet.com/Blog/