Topics created by jmnyc

Sadly the vets may simply not be that knowledgeable depending on their experiences and education if the products are not routinely used. To suggest not taking preventative measures appalls me.

First, contact these folks. They have always been quick to respond to my questions and I am betting you they have resources to give you better research information and suggestions on whether products have actually been found resistant to flea/mosquitoes. They should also have advice on whether switching to the older daily meds provides more protection: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/

While it is true that fleas may become resistant to some meds, first you would need a long term high usage which, let's be real– Guyana doesn't come to mind. Second, back up flea protection with flea/tick combing as suggested. Before Frontline, I had to flea comb my chow so really, it's not that big of deal

I seriously doubt that heartworms are becoming resistant to meds. And while they didn't say not to, again, if they suggest that, to become resistant, they would need to survive, propagate more resistant offspring, etc. With the massive use of the drug here in the USA, we haven't seen resistance. So at least you can feel sure you can protect them. Additionally, heartguard helps protect against OTHER worms too.

http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2006/Dirofilariasis/Prevention.htm

In South America, success has already been demonstrated with the reduction of heartworm infections across many countries. This can be attributed to:

Better control programs for mosquito populations, resulting in a decrease in vector populations.
Effective chemoprophylaxis for heartworm to prevent increase in number of disease carriers.
Reduction of disease carriers with injectable ivermectin to kill existing microfilariae in dog populations.
Side effect reduction of reproductive capacity of worms from ehrlichiosis control with tetracyclines.

What concerns me is the mosquito issue. Frankly, not much has ever been proven to help a lot. I don't know how other types of mosquito borne diseases are there. You can help with different products, and I have found that neem tree oil spray works marvelous on humans. But here is a rundown for people products. Sadly most are not recommended for dogs due to likelihood of ingesting them.:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in419

Neem: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/pesticide/hgic2770.html

Neem is a relatively new and promising botanical insecticide made from extracts of Neem tree seeds. It is used to control a wide variety of insects including leafminers, whiteflies, thrips, caterpillars, aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, scale crawlers, and beetles. Neem is most effective against actively growing immature insects.

Azadirachtin, the active ingredient in neem extracts, has a very low mammalian toxicity. It acts as an insect feeding deterrent and growth regulator. Neem does not produce a quick knockdown and kill, but stops insect feeding. The treated insect usually cannot molt into its next life stage and dies without reproducing.

Many commercial neem products exist, including Azatin XL, Neemix, SouthernAg Triple Action Neem Oil and Safer BioNeem. These products are labeled for use on ornamentals, foliage plants, trees, shrubs and food crops. Many neem products and formulations are also effective as a fungicide against powdery mildew.

exactly why i converse infrequently. i'm never quite sure where i am in these forums. it sure is fun to see all B lovers.

Periodontal disease is a tough one to get on top of once it takes hold (in both humans and dogs) because the bacteria gets down in the pockets and it is very difficult to keep clean. People have better luck because they have the ability to floss daily, but that is very difficult with a dog – and believe me, I've tried. 😃 Periodontal disease is not the same as an auto-immune disease that dogs can get (lest I be accused of getting them confused).

I believe the reason our furry companions, and especially the dry-mouth (non-slobbering types) often get it is because of a couple things in addition to not being able to floss. 1. They don't slobber so their mouths really don't get a good natural rinse, and 2. they are fed an unnatural diet. In the wild they would be crunching up bones which acts like a natural toothbrush/floss, and they wouldn't be eating cereal grains which are carbs on steroids turning to sugar once it hits the saliva.

There are kibbles out there that do not contain grains which may help by keeping the sugars at bay in the mouth. Evo is one, Instinct is another. Feeding raw is a great alternative. I am also a big fan of the PetzLife product and think it works wonders to keep plaque at bay on the teeth, but not sure how well it works with the plague and bacteria already under the gumline. My rat terrier does not have periodontal disease. I feed him Evo and brush his teeth daily (with a three-sided toothbrush) with Petzlife and he has the teeth of a two year old which isn't bad considering he's almost 11. If his gut could handle it I'd feed him raw, but that has not bode well with him unfortunately.

FWIW, in a past life I worked as a chairside assistant for a dentist so I do know a bit about teeth and periodontal disease. I came away from that experience realizing that if I were on a deserted island I'd rather have an endless supply of dental floss vs. a toothbrush. I would be more likely to keep my teeth with the first rather that the latter. Now if we could just figure out how to floss a dog's teeth. 🙂

If they are too hard - how about adding some Flax Seed - I'm think that more fiber might help. or a small bit of Karo Syrup.

They perscribed Rimadly for Beta after her stomach exploratory procedure. I had to take her off of it when her GI was inflamed because the vet said it would be too harsh on her stomach.

I suggest, if you arent already, to give the meds right after eating so the stomach is full.

If the nuts are salted, you should be more concered with vomiting. The emergency animal hospital in SW Idaho has recommended a teaspoon on salt to induce vomiting, when my hooligans had gotten into the groceries. I noticed a tube of toothpaste with teethmarks in it, though the tube wasn't deformed in any way. As a precaution, this is what the vets recommended