Heartworm and flea and tick prevention - what to do????????

[seaherons]

What does everyone do?  Last year we gave Cirra Heartgard Plus every six weeks as opposed to every four which was suggested by The Whole Dog Journal.  We will probably start that again this year however we are concerned about the side effects of the product. We don't use any topical products for ticks and fleas.  We don't have a problem with fleas however there are ticks in our area.  We check Cirra for ticks on a regular basis and use a tick remover called Trix to remove any that we find.  We have put some herbal formulas on a bandana for Cirra to repel ticks however don't know how successful it is.  We do not give Cirra the vaccine for Lyme Disease.   

[People Whisperer]

I do not give Lily Lyme vaccine either. I know plenty of dogs who got the desease with vaccine. I don't think that the benefit outweights the side effects. If your dog has a strong immune system and you remove ticks on regular basis the chances are very low.

The same for fleas. Nothing for us...

As for the heartworm preventives I use certified back walnut mixture when at risk (when the tempratures stays 57F and higher for more then 3 weeks)

So far so good!

[morph's mom]

What is the certified black walnut mixture??  We just moved back to indiana from california and this is the first time that I have had to deal with heart worms.  My parents never did any preventative with thier dogs when I was growing up (I didnt know any better at the time) so I dont know what I should or should not do.  They are on frontline for fleas and ticks but AJ has such long hair and is sooo low to the ground that when we go on the only dog freindly trail here he seems to bring a whole colony ticks home with him.  We have only found 3 on Morph.  What is this lyme disease vaccine also??

Thanks
Carrie

[People Whisperer]

What is the certified black walnut mixture??  We just moved back to indiana from california and this is the first time that I have had to deal with heart worms.  My parents never did any preventative with thier dogs when I was growing up (I didnt know any better at the time) so I dont know what I should or should not do.  They are on frontline for fleas and ticks but AJ has such long hair and is sooo low to the ground that when we go on the only dog freindly trail here he seems to bring a whole colony ticks home with him.  We have only found 3 on Morph.  What is this lyme disease vaccine also??

Thanks
Carrie

Lyme desease is carried by deer ticks. They are very small and hard to find on the dark coated dog. It is very common in new England and CT area. Just Google it and you will find plenty of info. Lyme desease is easily treated when cought early with herbal medications or antibiotics (whatever you prefer). If you choose to vaccinate your dog you have to do it annualy. A lot of dogs have various side effects to the vaccine and a lot of dogs don't even get full immunity. That is why we choose not to do it.

Certified black walnut mixture is one the best herbal remedies which helps with parasites including the heartworm.

[kathryn]

I don't vaccinate for lyme disease not do I typically use flea and tick preventative.  I generally treat my yard for fleas and ticks and only use Frontline when they are going to the woods for a hike.  But we do have to treat for heartworms year round since we are in TX.  I have used Heartguard and Iverhart and now just switched to Interceptor.  They will receive their first dose of Interceptor next week so I'll let you know how that goes.  I will say that I'm not so sure that I would go 6 weeks between treatments for heartworms just because I had a dog contract heartworms and we missed one treatment due to moving.  So I am even more diligent on the once a month treatment.

[People Whisperer]

What is the certified black walnut mixture??  We just moved back to indiana from california and this is the first time that I have had to deal with heart worms.  My parents never did any preventative with thier dogs when I was growing up (I didnt know any better at the time) so I dont know what I should or should not do.  They are on frontline for fleas and ticks but AJ has such long hair and is sooo low to the ground that when we go on the only dog freindly trail here he seems to bring a whole colony ticks home with him.  We have only found 3 on Morph.  What is this lyme disease vaccine also??

Thanks
Carrie

This is a great mixture which sc. trojan posted a while ago and that is what I use.

"With this said, I have found through experience that many safe, natural products work just as well if not better than toxic pesticides.  Rose geranium oil or palmarosa oil is just as effective at repelling ticks and not harmful for my dogs in the process.  I have to apply them far more often so they lack the mindless convenient factor that longer term chemicals offer, but I do not see this as a problem for me.  Here is the recipe:

Mix 1 part palmarosa oil with 2 parts almond or olive oil.
You can add fresh lemon juice for added impact. You can also add citronella oil and lavender oil for flea repelling at the same time.  I use a dropper to drop on strategically where ticks go - back of head, neck, chest, under arms and belly and reapply every 2-3 days as needed. Many I know also use this recipe in other parts of the country where they have a larger problem, and they put in a small spray bottle, dilute with 50% water so that they can spray the solution all over their animal - avoiding the face and mucous membranes. This includes those I know in New England, where many live in fear of lyme.  It also makes a shiny coat"

[Winslow 151]

What is the certified black walnut mixture?? We just moved back to indiana from california and this is the first time that I have had to deal with heart worms. My parents never did any preventative with thier dogs when I was growing up (I didnt know any better at the time) so I dont know what I should or should not do. They are on frontline for fleas and ticks but AJ has such long hair and is sooo low to the ground that when we go on the only dog freindly trail here he seems to bring a whole colony ticks home with him. We have only found 3 on Morph. What is this lyme disease vaccine also??

Thanks
Carrie

This is a great mixture which sc. trojan posted a while ago and that is what I use.

"With this said, I have found through experience that many safe, natural products work just as well if not better than toxic pesticides. Rose geranium oil or palmarosa oil is just as effective at repelling ticks and not harmful for my dogs in the process. I have to apply them far more often so they lack the mindless convenient factor that longer term chemicals offer, but I do not see this as a problem for me. Here is the recipe:

Mix 1 part palmarosa oil with 2 parts almond or olive oil.
You can add fresh lemon juice for added impact. You can also add citronella oil and lavender oil for flea repelling at the same time. I use a dropper to drop on strategically where ticks go - back of head, neck, chest, under arms and belly and reapply every 2-3 days as needed. Many I know also use this recipe in other parts of the country where they have a larger problem, and they put in a small spray bottle, dilute with 50% water so that they can spray the solution all over their animal - avoiding the face and mucous membranes. This includes those I know in New England, where many live in fear of lyme. It also makes a shiny coat"

Hi,

I just bought the essential oils you mention, I am no chemist so what exactly is a "Part"?

Mix 1 part palmarosa oil with 2 parts almond or olive oil.

I live in MA, and camp regularly throughout New England and run winslow through the woods often I ahve already pulled a few ticks off him so I am doing Frontline and plan to mix up the herbal spray to for woods days!!

Thanks.

[schelmischekitty]

i would think a part is like, depending on what amount you're making, if you want 3 tablespoons, you'd have 1 tablespoon palmarosa oil with 2 tablespoons almond or olive oil. i hope that makes sense!

[People Whisperer]

i would think a part is like, depending on what amount you're making, if you want 3 tablespoons, you'd have 1 tablespoon palmarosa oil with 2 tablespoons almond or olive oil. i hope that makes sense!

That's right!

[Winslow 151]

Hi,

Makes perfect sense thanks!!

[Brownis15]

At the vet yesturday, a dog came in who was having a reaction to the Heartguard chewables. Aparently ogs can have reactions to the ingredients in the heartguard or in the chewable ingredients. So it is safer to use a product like intraceptor. Merlin was allergic to heartguard, but has been on intraceptor and does great!