OH NO!!! Toby got TAPEWORMS!! HEWLP!
 

Ok all, I live in Southern Ohio. It has consistantly been around 30 degrees or lower here for about 3 weeks. The other night I noticed something white on Toby's butt. I looked closer and guess what it was TAPEWORMS! I was mortified. Yuck! So the next day I took him to the vet and they gave him meds for it. I immediately put him on Frontline, and he has been on Heartguard since he was 10 weeks. This medicine was more costly than I expected and I was wondering some things.
Here are my Questions:

1. Do I have to keep him on Heartworm medication during the winter since there are no mosquitoes in the winter here. I don't really mind this cost b/c it is only 4.00 per month.

2.Is there a cheaper way for us to have flea prevention for our furbaby? I wasn't expecting it to be close to 15.00 per month. The reason I ask is b/c I was just trying to give flea baths once to twice a month depending on the season to help stop him from getting fleas and tapeworms. But the last time I gave him a flea bath he had a total of 2 fleas on him and from that minute amount, he got tapeworms. I want my baby to be healthy, but this is alot on us right now. Do I need this in the winter too seeing how he already got the worms while it was cold out?

I also wanted to let you all know that I sweep my carpet pretty regularly, so I know that they are not in our house.
Please help me out with this if you can.

I have no experience with Tapeworms - but I do think the Vet should be able to give you something - on the Flea baths - nothing by Hartz company right ? That stuff is very toxic...

what kind of bath ? Have you tried using Dawn Dish Detergent in his shampoo ? I've never tried it but heard it's great for killing fleas

you said you're using Frontline ? have you tried Advantix ? I wish I could help !! I would freak out too -

No I haven't tried advantix, but I am willing to try anything that is a little cheaper than 15.00 per month. But if he doesn't need to be on it in the winter than that would be even better, what do you all think? :confused:

P.S. We were using Dawn not Hartz!!

I paid 36 dollars for a four month supply of Advantix at my vet the other day. If I had only bought one month, it would have been 11 dollars. He suspected my baby had tapeworms when he was so sick over Thanksgiving and gave him a shot for it just in case but we have never seen anything that looks like one on his butt. or in his poop. he did say that they are caused from the fleas.

i must say that ADVANTAGE is the best flea medicine i've ever used!! you only really need to apply that one time and they're gone for good. after it works its way into his system, new fleas dont stand a chance either. i think you should really look into it.

fleas
 

The winter will kill the fleas outside, but not inside. I used to use Adams flea spray on the carpets and then vacuum. When fleas are a problem you can bomb the house. We used to do the yard, house and bathe all the dogs in the same weekend..got rid of fleas really well..then they invented good flea meds.

PS..you know you can order heartworm/flea control meds from Austrailia without a prescription quite cheap.

That's the stuff we used to have - it came in a Royal-Blue Bottle and smelled really good right ? that stuff was GREAT :thumbup: we did have ONE flea I found on Chanel when we brought her home - I used that all over my house and we never EVER have seen a flea in 3 years and I have THREE dogs that love to run in and out.

Don't use Advantix unless you only bathe your fur-baby once a month. It washes off. Frontline is the ONLY flea prevention method that does not wash off at all. I understand too. It is costly. You can buy it from Petedge.com for a bit of a cheaper price. Also, ipets.com is where I get mine, but it takes awhile to arrive here as it comes from Australia. But it's supercheap. I got 6 month supplie for my cat, 2 big dogs, and a 12 month supply for bounce all for $200, INCLUDING shipping. Talk about a deal!

Frontline washes off too according to my vet just the other day. he said the shampoo strips ALL of it off no matter what the package says. he recommended getting a soapless shampoo . they have that at Petsmart and other pet stores also. he said if you use either Frontline or Advantage it WILL last the entire month with soapless shampoo.

Thats interesting I didnt know that it washes off.

It says on the package that it doesn't but the vet said it does with both brands. I put some on Ceeby this week after his bath. Well next day. I have noticed him still scratching a little. so i don't know what's going on.

spray
 

Villette..you are sooo right! Adams flea spray smelled wonderful..and worked good.

Ok, What is Advantage, how does it work, how often do you have to use it in a year, and how much is it?

I paid 36 dollars for a four month supply of Advantage at my vet the other day. If I had only bought one month, it would have been 11 dollars. It is a flea medicine that you put on their neck in the back or high up between their shoulders after you part the hair to let it get on the skin. You have to put it where they can't lick it off. It comes in a little tiny tube and is great. i don't think you can buy it ovr the counter but you do not need a script for it. Just get it at your vet. You apply it once a month.

Frontline is, in my opinion, as good as Advantage AND it also prevents TICKS which are a concern in our area...I use a portion of the vial on 2 or 3 dogs monthly; BUT, if ticks are not an issue, you can use Frontline every 3 months for flea control.. The package has specific info about its use...

I use Frontline too, at the recommendation of my vet because of ticks. I am sure there are plenty of good products out there but my comment is this. After having dogs for years with years of flea problems along with it, in my area of sandy soil, using Frontline has kept me from even seeing a flea on my two yorkies in a year and one half, not to mention no ticks or anything. And, my dogs never have had any reaction to the product, my vet also said just to avoid bathing for a couple of days after application. I think if it was easily washed off, I would have seen at least one flea but have not. To me, it's worth every penny.

Revolution prevents heart worm, some worms, fleas, ticks, mites. You apply that on the neck one a month for prevention of all of the above your vet should have it...If not google it and you can buy it from canada without prescription as low as $25.00 which includes shipping for a puppy pack of three.

its a topical flea medicine that comes in a little tube that you squeeze onto the back of your pup's neck. you give it up to 2 days to wrk into his system and as soon as you know those fleas will be dropping dead fast! but the great thing is that it works itself into their blood sysytem so that new fleas can't live on your dog, as soon as they bite they die too. its great! we got it from our vet for like $12 for one dose...you're suppose to reapply every month but i found that the first time works so great that your good to go (if it gets too expensive for you).
here's the site that you can check out...
http://www.nofleas.com/

i highly recommend it! works better than anything else out there.

Just my opinion, I live in GA and we have had some cold weather in the 30's and lower and I've still seen mosquitoes. I keep mine on heartworm meds year round and I believe I would if you live in a state where you know that there are been cases of heartworms. But, like I said that is just me. I also use Frontline on my babies. I haven't had a problem with tapeworms in years. My Shih Tzu had them then and I just went to the vet and got some pills. Never seen them since. Wish I could be of more help.

Thanks guys!
I am just trying to figure out what the best product for my baby and I. They all sound good to me. Frontline is close to 14.00 a month, but I didn't know that I could use a little at a time on him. That would save alot. When I run out I am going to ask my vet about these different meds. If any of you have anymore advice I am listening!!! :D I have him on heartguard too like I said in my original post.