Is there such thing as a "flea shot"? They wont take the pill.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Sgt_Cooper

But i dont treat them for it and never have. Unless the vet gave it to them at their check ups when they got their shots. Is this something i need to be doing? They are rarely outside and seems like i was told once wormer wasnt needed as often if they are not outside much in icky places to be exposed to more parasites and things.

My girls only go outside to potty. However, my vet still has them on a heartworm preventative. We had a Beagle a long time ago that had heartworms. He had to be treated for them. Trust me, do the preventative. You don't want your animal going through that. Also, the expense is huge. While a preventative is a very small monthly fee.

[Sandysbabies]

Heartworm is a horrible disease and all it takes is a mosquito that carries it, if I'm not mistaken. I know it comes from the mosquito and I think the female carries it. Anyway, I am surprised your vet doesn't really stress the heartworm pill. Mine have been on Interceptor all their lifes. A monthly pill that is worth not having to worry about them. But please, always get your meds through the vet. Heartworm, flea meds. etc. then you don't have to worry. I will never buy Frontline or advantage or anything like that through Petsmart or Petco or online. It is just not worth it. At least through the vet, you know what you are getting.

[gracielove]

You need to have a blood test done before starting heartworm preventative. They now have various methods of giving heart worm med. They have a chewable form which is much easier than a pill. When the topical flea meds first came out you could only get them from the vet but now they are available through various supply outlets. It's just like a prescription med that becomes available over the counter. Advantage is made by the same company no matter where you buy it. Of course the bigger companies buy large amounts of product and so they can sell it for less. I've never had any problem with buying it online from reputable sellers. I have saved quite a bit of money though.

[chestermama]

The pill pockets are great, better then anything else, that is what I used for chester comfortis a few weeks ago

[Ellie May]

Frontline, Advantage, and Comfortis are adulticides. They kill adult fleas. They do not kill eggs or stop fleas from reproducing before they die. A growth regulator stops the lifecycle. So you are killing the adults with the adulticide and stopping adults from having baby fleas with the growth regulator. Frontline Plus already has a regulator in it. However, you don't have to use one at all if you don't have a flea problem on your pets.

Dogs don't need an intestinal dewormer monthly for the most part. Heartworms are different. If one of your dogs gets them, the treatment of choices is injections of an arsenic compound. There is an injectable available, but there is a history of major issues with it. The most common would be a monthly pill and there is one spot-on product that doubles as a flea preventative (Advantage Multi). There is also Sentinel which is a heartworm drug plus a growth regulator for fleas (no adulticide, so it doesn't kill the adult fleas, but stops them from reproducing).

[BLowry]

I use a holistic mixture of peppermint oil and water....I have posted this several times..(posts get pushed out quickly here).if you would like the mixture measurements and how to apply it send me a pm....I would be happy to give it to you...I started using it a couple of years ago...haven't had a flea or tick on the girls since,,..

[Donnainohio63]

I am using frontline. I did use advantage but when I took the dogs to the groomers they all had fleas. I was so embarressed because my babies have never had fleas. After talking to the vet she told me that if I did not buy my flea meds from a vet than they are not guaranteed to work. I have learned a lesson thats for sure. I put the frontline on them and I swear all the fleas were gone in two hours and she also gave me this spray to use for the house. It cost 20 dollars a can but it is pet friendly and it worked great.

[gracielove]

We have had an unusually bad time with fleas this year. I have cats that go in and out all the time so I guess they are the major factors of our problem. I don't buy my Advantage from the vet and she does not mind. She also has written scripts for me to buy prescription meds we have needed online at a discount. They get their meds from the same companies but from different suppliers. My vet has to charge more since she cannot buy in such large quantities and of course she is out to make a profit. They mark up the price of their medications to at least 40% over what they pay for them. It's a business and they need to make a profit.
Anyway, the last time I talked to my vet she told me that when you have a lot of fleas the Frontline or Advantage will not last as long on your pet and that you have to reapply more frequently and/or use Capstar. I was reading the back of a box of Advantage II that I just got and it said the exact same thing that my vet told me. It said that the product would have to be applied more often if there is a lot of flea activity in the environment. It says not to apply more often than every 7 days. It's on the back of the box. I have never had to apply that often but apparently they say it is safe to do so. I don't know why more fleas requires more frequent application but it is clearly documented by the company.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Frontline, Advantage, and Comfortis are adulticides. They kill adult fleas. They do not kill eggs or stop fleas from reproducing before they die. A growth regulator stops the lifecycle. So you are killing the adults with the adulticide and stopping adults from having baby fleas with the growth regulator. Frontline Plus already has a regulator in it. However, you don't have to use one at all if you don't have a flea problem on your pets.

Dogs don't need an intestinal dewormer monthly for the most part. Heartworms are different. If one of your dogs gets them, the treatment of choices is injections of an arsenic compound. There is an injectable available, but there is a history of major issues with it. The most common would be a monthly pill and there is one spot-on product that doubles as a flea preventative (Advantage Multi). There is also Sentinel which is a heartworm drug plus a growth regulator for fleas (no adulticide, so it doesn't kill the adult fleas, but stops them from reproducing).

I use Sentinel for our heartworm treatment. And I like having the flea regulator as well. I also use Advantix. Between the combo of the two of them we never have fleas around.

[Sgt_Cooper]

Well, Fleas so far havent been a huge prob for us I dont think. They dont go outside much at all... i know I know, they should get propper walks and exercise. But they r very loved and spoiled. But I believe they pick up most of what fleas they get from the groomer where there is all that hair where multiple dogs have been. Seems like thats when I find them or flea dirt is usuallt after they've been. I love my dogs dearly and would do what I could. But im feeling a bit overwhelmed. I feel bad that I havent been treating them for heart worm. I just didnt realize I was supposed to. I thought all that was done when they got their shots. Which Ive been great ith that, they've never went without or gotten behind on. Im just overwhelmed though to know they both need to be flea treated and heartworm treated every month all year. That with other vet and grooming upkeep for two is overwheling right now. Things have just been a little tight this summer. I love both my dogs but i am extremely close to my yorkie... If I was down to my last dollar Id feed them over myself. Just a lil overwhelmed... but Ill definately talk to my vet next time about the heart worm stuff.

[gracielove]

I live in NYS so we don't have flea problems in the winter. I don't treat for fleas during the dead of winter but start up again in the spring.

[ArmaniMan]

It is possible they are getting fleas at the groomer, but you can also bring fleas inside yourself- that is why it is important to treat for fleas even if dogs don't spend a lot of time outside, it only takes a couple to start multiplying into more. Heartworm pills are pretty inexpensive and WAY WAY cheaper then the alternative of treating heartworm once your dog already has it.

Originally Posted by gracielove

I live in NYS so we don't have flea problems in the winter. I don't treat for fleas during the dead of winter but start up again in the spring.

We do the same- I give my kiddos a break from the flea meds from November- February, I also split one tube between my two since they are so small- so 8 vials of the medicine last me all year for two dogs, frontline usually runs specials when purchased through the vets office where you buy 6, get 2 free. So I usually only have to pay for 6 a year.

[Valenie]

Originally Posted by SophieKatesMom

I have a Yorkie who is hard to pill also, we use Comfortis and how I get her to take it is I use the Greenie Pill Pockets. I cut the Comfortis in half and wrap the two halves in the pill pocket (broken into pieces also). I just start feeding her treats usually start with a piece without the pill and power feed them into her. Works everytime for me now!!

Peanut Butter never worked for me, she would eat the peanut butter and spit the pill out.

Good luck

Tibbs has to have a pill pocket too! Works great for him!

[camile]

My girls are very good about taking pills, but occasionally one will taste especially bad and then I put it into a marshmallow. I like to use the small ones, they're just about perfect for most pills, its sticky and they can't separate the pill from the marshmallow. Works like a charm and no discomfort or anxiety for my girls.