FLEA, TICK & HEARTWORM PREVENTION/MEDICATION

[EDDEL]

Recently, I read an article in the March 2005 issue of DOG WORLD MAGAZINE about controlling fleas, ticks & heartworm.

Thought I'd share some pertinent information I gleaned from that article seeing as how a few members had raised questions about the above-captioned.

In using such preventative medication (be they topical, spray or oral), we as guardians, must be cognizant of active ingredients in these products and their intended effects on the "target" (ie. fleas, ticks & heartworm) or worse yet, side effects on our Bichons.

All info (highlighted in blue) hereafter are extracted from article titled
"CONTROLLING FLEAS, TCKS AND HEARTWORM"
by Audrey Pavaia (Dog World Magazine, March 2005).


  There are several effective "active ingredients" in today's control methods, and all are primarily designed to take advantage of how fleas & ticks live and reproduce.


  The 4-stage life cycle begins when a female flea breeds and subsequently lays up to 50 eggs at a time on a dog's skin. ?Her excrement, blood-rich "flea dirt", serves as food for the larvae, which normally hatch in 2 to 5 days.


  The life cycle of the tick is somewhat similar in that it begins with the breeding of a female tick and the laying of 100 to 6,000 eggs , depending on species. ?Tick larvae have 6 legs until they feed. ?Once they have digested a blood meal, they molt into 8-legged nymphs.


  In general, topical monthlies work by tampering with the flea & tick nervous system while not adversely affecting the dog. ?The products come in liquid form and are placed on the dog's back, where they are distributed throughout the dog's skin by the sebaceous glands.


  "FIPRONIL" (found in FRONTLINE TOPSPOT, FRONTLINE PLUS, FRONTLINE SPRAY) works by affecting the GABA receptor in the flea & tick, causing hyperactivity & death.


  "IMIDACLOPRID" (found in ADVANTAGE topical monthlies) works on the nervous system of the flea, at a specific receptor site. ?The flea doesn't have to bite the pet to get the compound in between the intersegmental membranes on its body. ?Once the chemical gets to these membranes, the flea's nervous system is affected.


  "SELAMECTIN" (found in all REVOLUTION products) is absorbed through the skin without entering the bloodstream and recycled out through the skin from the sebaceous glands. ?In this way, it takes care of fleas while also providing heartworm protection.
PS: Most other manufacturers claim "active ingredients" found in their product are distributed throughout the skin without entering the bloodstream.


  Oral dosage products are designed primarily to control heartworm, but some also contain the active ingredient of "LUFENURON" (found in PROGRAM & PROGRAM PLUS tablets, SENTINEL tablets, both manufactured by Novartis) an insect growth regulator (commonly refered to as IGR) that prevent fleas from developing beyond the egg stage.


  Because these products are administered through the mouth, they have a SYSTEMATIC EFFECT on the dog, meaning the ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream and stored in fat cells. ?The flea receives a dose of the chemical when it bites the dog and ingests the treated blood.


  Since the heartworm is a NEMATODE with larvae that reside in the dog's bloodstream, blood containing these active ingredients will stop the nemotode's growth.


  "SELAMECTIN" (found in REVOLUTION) arrests the development of heartworm and disrupts the nematode's nervous system. ?It works by affecting the 3rd & 4th stages of the heartworm larvae. ?This chemical has a 60-day reach back, which means it will kill heartworm that may have infected the dog as long as 2 months prior. ?Selamectin has also proven effective against sarcoptic mange, ear mites, hookworm, fleas and ticks.


  "INVERMECTIN" (found in HEARTGARD chewables & HEARTGARD PLUS) is effective in killing heartworm microfilia before it has a chance to develop into an adult heartworm. ?It is not effective with fleas & ticks.


  Care should be taken not to combine "INVERMECTIN" use with any flea/tick products that are also monoamine oxidase inhibitors. ?When used together, products in this chemical group can create sedation and adverse neurological effects



Edited to correct funny symbols that probably resulted during the forum switch-over/upgrade.

[EDDEL]

Please feel to post questions, thoughts, comments.  Let's discuss and learn from each other.

You'll find that once you get over the 'agony'/trials of crate-training, toilet-training, obedience-training your Bichon, you'll be concerned with other aspects of raising your Bichon.... food/nutrition being a hot topic, and in my books, preventative medication such as these (and vaccinations).  As with all decision regarding our Bichons, I firmly believe in making an informed one .


PS: Don't let my typing all this information be for nought :-[

[Julie]

Great post!! I always learn so much from the things you post.  I've been really busy lately so I haven't been relpying much....mostly reading.

Good work!!!!!!!!  Keep it up!!  We love it. ;D

[Kristen]

Hi, all!

The whole tick and flea issue is something I was pretty concerned about, as this is my first 'outdoor' season with Katrina.  I don't claim to be an expert myself, but I do listen to a radio program here in Minnesota on Saturday mornings (which is available over the web at www.fm107.fm from 8:00am - 10:00am CDT) that is hosted by "Katie K-9".  She is a dog trainer with over 20 years experience here in the state.  She is well known within the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis and I have really enjoyed her program.  I started listening about a year before I adopted Katrina, in hopes of learning about owning a dog and things I should know.

One of the things I really like about Katie's show is that she truly loves dogs.  Two weeks ago, she addressed flea and tick control.  Her opinion is that we shouldn't put anything on our dogs that we wouldn't put on ourselves, and since most of the treatments available to us state we should use rubber gloves when applying, well...

Her advice was to put a bandana in a plastic bag and drop a few drops of essential oil of either eucalyptus or penny royal on the bandana.  Then, seal up the bag and leave it overnight.  When you are taking out the dog to areas where you are concerned about ticks or fleas, put the bandana on.  Make sure you check the dog for ticks afterward.

In addition, she suggested that preventing fleas could largely be addressed by home cleanliness.  She recommended washing floors and vacuuming weekly.  She recommended cutting a flea collar in half and inserting one-half of it in the vacuum bag to kill any fleas/eggs vacuumed up.  She suggested we pay attention to vacuuming the corners and edges of our carpeted rooms, especially.

So, that's what I know.  Hope it helps!

Take care,

Kristen

[EDDEL]

Hi Kristen, so nice to hear from you

You brought up a point that I was hoping someone would.... and that being the use of natural remedies versus these "chemicals".  Over here in Singapore, there's much debate (on our local doggie forums) about the use (sometimes excessive use) of such topical applications.  

Just curious... who here believes in using natural remedies only for their Bichons? (for flea/tick/heartworm prevention that is)

[Marla]

Eddel,
Thank you very much for the info. Reading how they all work does scare me a bit. (Tho I'm still using Frontline plus and heart guard.) If the natural methods don't work, the effects of the fleas and ticks would be worse.
Has anyone tried the natural methods? Kristen, are you following the bandana method?
Thanks again, Marla

[Kellbellmom]

My dog is only 7 1/2 pounds. Frontline says it is up tp 22 pounds. Isn't that a huge difference? More than TWICE his weight. He is a Bichon/toy poodle mix.

[lauren_fox]

You might want to check another thread on this issue....I think it was February when I gave my three month old puppy that heartworm chew and she got sick (....as a dog... ???) for about four days. That was when I found this great forum ;D I did not know what to do, it was terrible. I too did not understand how you could give a small puppy something for a 22 pound dog :-[ I changed to a pill form the following month with no problem.

[Marla]

Kellbell, you raise a great question!  I brought Angelica home in the winter so didn't have to worry about that when she weighed 10 pounds. I'd suggest asking your vet and even calling Frontline. Anyone who has been in your situation on this great forum will let you know their experience, for sure.  
Good luck and keep us posted, Marla

[Pepper_Mom]

Hi Bichon lovers!

Pepper is due for a grooming and I want him to get it before we leave for Montreal in July so he will look spiffy    Our groomer just called and she asked me if Pepper was on flea prevention and I said NO.  He is currently on Heartguard for heartworm prevention.  I know I discussed this with the vet last season and I told her since Pepper was not outside much (only during walks) I decided against it and the vet left it at that.  We were fine last year.  This year she didn't even ask me and just gave me the Heartguard.  The groomer is insisting that Pepper be put on flea prevention otherwise she will not take him in and while I understand that since she grooms a lot of dogs on her premise there is a definite risk of picking up fleas at her place.  Are my hands tied? What should I do?  Is everyone's bichon here on flea prevention mediction?  Your advice will be greatly appreciated before I make my final decision.  THANKS  

[BenjisMommy]

Benji is also just taking Heartguard, and in fact the vet insisted he just takes that since he's not out much and since there's like no way he can get fleas there's no point in him taking medication for no point. Even with my first Bichon Snoopy, i never used flea meds. He was always on heartguard for heartworm and that's it. I never had any problems.

[Pepper_Mom]

Benji is also just taking Heartguard, and in fact the vet insisted he just takes that since he's not out much and since there's like no way he can get fleas there's no point in him taking medication for no point.

That is my exact feeling.  Why get extra stuff in his system when you don't need it.  If we were living in the country I would understand.  All Pepper does is go out on walks and it's mainly on the streets. There are times now that we bring him to the soccer field to run around.

He was always on heartguard for heartworm and that's it. I never had any problems.

I know it's a personal decision and our groomer just wants to protect themselves (flea infestation in their homes) and I certainly understand that.  I guess I will have to find another place that will groom him without the flea prevention medicine.  I am assuming that the vets and other pet grooming facilities have better control of flea infestation since they are in that business.  I just found out that the flea med will cost us over $65 and that already has made up my mind     The groomer at our vet has left but they said there was never such a policy in place.  Also, seeing that they see and treat dogs and cats at the office all year round, why don't they insist that every dog/cat be on flea medication?  Time to search for a groomer  

Another question....does everyone here get the blood test done for the heartworm?  My friend told me that she used to but now she doesn't for her 2 dogs.  She must sign a waiver form.  I am seriously thinking of opting out of the blood test also.  What are your thoughts?[/b]

[BenjisMommy]

I do the blood test for Benji, but i dont really know what it's for. I just do it because i thought i had to? Pepper_Mom, is there a reason you don't want to get it done for Pepper? I'm just curious because i don't know much on the blood test.

[Pepper_Mom]

I do the blood test for Benji, but i dont really know what it's for. I just do it because i thought i had to? Pepper_Mom, is there a reason you don't want to get it done for Pepper? I'm just curious because i don't know much on the blood test.

Actually I didn't know a blood test had to be done until we arrived at the vet and like you I was not sure why it was being done.  Obviously it's to test if the dog has heartworm infection but isn't that why you get the Heartgard (to prevent this)?  After it was done it seemed useless and then after hearing my friend opting out of the blood test I thought it was a good idea.  I will surely discuss this with the vet next year.  Sometimes I think they just want to suck the money out of us.  The blood test was not cheap $44 and the Heartgard was only $19.

[Marla]

I never heard of that blood test  but Angelica is not a year old yet.
She's on Heartguard Plus and Frontline Plus. I need to give her the flea meds because of the woods in my backyard. I also worry about deer tics.  (Seeing how she made friends with a doe )
I don't see the point in the blood test if our puppies are on Heartguard...