OK shots done now what?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Bella2017

I wondered the same thing. They said Rabies in two weeks. That would put him at 3 months old or so. Would that be right? I think my Labrador was 5 months when he got his..I forget it was long ago.
On Healthypets.mercola.com it says that there is a huge potential conflict of interest about the Heartworm. that it is an overuse of potentially toxic medications sold by Pharmeucutical giants like Bayer Healthcare, Merial, and
Pfifer. which are virtually money making machines for drug manufacturers, online retailers, veterinarians, and any other entity that can find a way to cash in.
When there's money on the table, in this case billions of dollars, your pet's health and quality of life can quickly become a secondary concern.
And BTW, Heartworm 'preventives' don't actually prevent your pet from getting worms. What they do is poison the larvae at the microfilaria (L1-L2) stage of development, causing them to die.
This information is NOT intended to minimize the need to protect your dog, but ONLY to point out the actual potential for Heartworm disease is less than you've been led to believe by financially motivated marketing campaigns designed to scare pet owners into buying 12 doses per year, year in and year out, regardless of where you live.
Florida, Texas, and the Gulf States need the 12 month preventative doses. everywhere else it should be six months. This is how all my dogs live very long lives.
For example, I don't ever take a flu shot and I'm not young. I've never had the flu.

I find a lot of Dr.Mercola's to be lacking. You might want to look up skeptvet that's a pretty awesome resource. The issue is if you don't kill the microflera then you risk them becoming adult heartworms and if you give them the heartworm chew when they have adult heartworms you are more then likely going to kill the dog. Heartworms is something you shouldn't play around with especially with small dogs that the treatment can kill and leave last issues. We have mosquitoes except maybe January and February but we had a mild winter here in Maryland so I give year round. When there are mosquitoes there is a chance for the spread of heartworms. I have had the flu at 25 and almost killed me not shot that year, got the flu shot this year and a month ago got the flu and it was so much less then it was when I didn't have the shot but the flu and heartworms are very very different.

[pstinard]

Mercola is not a consistent source of good information, so I would go with a vet's recommendation. Heartworm prevention is essential in most parts of the country--you can google heartworm incidence maps to see if you're in a part of the country where it is prevalent. Some heartworm treatments are less toxic than others. We personally go with Revolution since they specifically make a smaller dose for dogs under 5 pounds.

With respect to kennel cough, I agree with the others who say it's not necessarily effective. However, our local boarders and groomers require a vaccination certificate for kennel cough, so we get it anyway. If you do get it, get the injection, not the nasal vaccine.

[Zeus is Loved]

Living in Mississippi, it is heartworm meds all year. We kill mosquitoes in our house 12 months a year, and it has been bad this year since we've had no winter. Mostly 60s-70s this winter. It's 87 today. My vet recommends the heartworm test every year due to this fact (even taking preventatives), and since we love our boys, of course we have it done. Lepto is always recommended in my area. I do the kennel cough vaccine as well, but then again, I did all vaccines for my son. I don't really look up much about vaccines for humans or dogs on the internet, because most of what you read is simply scare tactics and fear mongering. JMHO.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Bella2017

I wondered the same thing. They said Rabies in two weeks. That would put him at 3 months old or so. Would that be right? I think my Labrador was 5 months when he got his..I forget it was long ago.
On Healthypets.mercola.com it says that there is a huge potential conflict of interest about the Heartworm. that it is an overuse of potentially toxic medications sold by Pharmeucutical giants like Bayer Healthcare, Merial, and
Pfifer. which are virtually money making machines for drug manufacturers, online retailers, veterinarians, and any other entity that can find a way to cash in.
When there's money on the table, in this case billions of dollars, your pet's health and quality of life can quickly become a secondary concern.
And BTW, Heartworm 'preventives' don't actually prevent your pet from getting worms. What they do is poison the larvae at the microfilaria (L1-L2) stage of development, causing them to die.
This information is NOT intended to minimize the need to protect your dog, but ONLY to point out the actual potential for Heartworm disease is less than you've been led to believe by financially motivated marketing campaigns designed to scare pet owners into buying 12 doses per year, year in and year out, regardless of where you live.
Florida, Texas, and the Gulf States need the 12 month preventative doses. everywhere else it should be six months. This is how all my dogs live very long lives.
For example, I don't ever take a flu shot and I'm not young. I've never had the flu.

I'm not sure why you're asking so many questions if you already have your mind set/have your own answers LoL no, but you are correct about heartworm medication. Watch a dog go through heartworm treatment though and I think you'd prefer to just give the medication every month. It truly is safe. If I am wasting my money, so be it. I'd rather not take the chance. Even if it's just a 10% chance that my dog may get heartworms, I'd rather give the medicine anyway.

Here are some videos of heartworms in a dog's heart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L8116RTNOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcgZPK9BNEY
^both dogs died due to heartworm.

Uhhh yeah, no thanks! lol.

[Bella2017]

Originally Posted by Britster

I'm not sure why you're asking so many questions if you already have your mind set/have your own answers LoL no, but you are correct about heartworm medication. Watch a dog go through heartworm treatment though and I think you'd prefer to just give the medication every month. It truly is safe. If I am wasting my money, so be it. I'd rather not take the chance. Even if it's just a 10% chance that my dog may get heartworms, I'd rather give the medicine anyway.

Here are some videos of heartworms in a dog's heart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L8116RTNOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcgZPK9BNEY
^both dogs died due to heartworm.

Uhhh yeah, no thanks! lol.

Where are the questions? I like others opinions and advice THEN I make up my own mind after research which I always do even about myself, health wise. I had the flu shot one time 20 years ago and never had it again. Never had the flu. Look up what's in a flu shot. People just go along and do what their doctors tell them to do while all along the doctors are the ones getting the kickbacks. I'm sorry, but sometimes I just don't go with the flow. My son had the pneumonia shot, had pneumonia two weeks later, induced coma, rest is too sad for this forum. Although he came out of the coma, he was never the same. People need to educate themselves about ALL vaccines, things your dog gets but doesn't need, and for yourself. And I cannot watch a depressing video. That does not make me change what I already know.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Bella2017

Where are the questions? I like others opinions and advice THEN I make up my own mind after research which I always do even about myself, health wise. I had the flu shot one time 20 years ago and never had it again. Never had the flu. Look up what's in a flu shot. People just go along and do what their doctors tell them to do while all along the doctors are the ones getting the kickbacks. I'm sorry, but sometimes I just don't go with the flow. My son had the pneumonia shot, had pneumonia two weeks later, induced coma, rest is too sad for this forum. Although he came out of the coma, he was never the same. People need to educate themselves about ALL vaccines, things your dog gets but doesn't need, and for yourself. And I cannot watch a depressing video. That does not make me change what I already know.

If you've read all my posts, I am very limited-vaccine, I myself don't do the flu shot, etc, things of that nature. I am very cautious and never ever just follow along with what a doctor said blindly. So I agree with you.

I just thought it was funny how you were asking the questions and then you come back and kind of answer them for yourself haha. No offense meant to be taken.

It's not a depressing video. It's actual worms inside a dogs heart. What heartworm disease IS. I don't want that to happen to my dog so I choose to keep him on medication.

For what it's worth, Jackson wasn't vaccinated for... six years? I likely won't ever get him vaccines again except for rabies every 3 years which unfortunately is required by law. I did puppy vaccines (8, 12 and 16 weeks... lepto was included in the 12 week one - NEVER AGAIN... as my boy had a horrible reaction). Then he had his one year old booster. He did not get the distemper booster again until 7 years old. I fully believe vaccines to be effective for 5-7+ years, likely more.

So you're just preaching to the choir here. I'm just trying to help because I've come a long way too and I used to sound just like you honestly LoL. I've learned that not everything is so black/white and it's not as simple as saying "all doctors are out to get your money" when that's really not the case. Speak to the majority of veterinarians and they are in the profession because they love animals. Nobody goes to school and has thousands upon thousands dollars in debt to abuse animals or steal your money or get kickbacks from food (which in all actuality, is very little). Are there some bad apples? Of course -- just like in every profession. Are there some vets I wouldn't go to due to pushy beliefs that they learn in school? Yes. I definitely have been choosy with my vets and am sooo glad to have found my perfect vet (in my opinion) who is a perfect happy medium just like me.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

If you've read all my posts, I am very limited-vaccine, I myself don't do the flu shot, etc, things of that nature. I am very cautious and never ever just follow along with what a doctor said blindly. So I agree with you.

I just thought it was funny how you were asking the questions and then you come back and kind of answer them for yourself haha. No offense meant to be taken.

It's not a depressing video. It's actual worms inside a dogs heart. What heartworm disease IS. I don't want that to happen to my dog so I choose to keep him on medication.

For what it's worth, Jackson wasn't vaccinated for... six years? I likely won't ever get him vaccines again except for rabies every 3 years which unfortunately is required by law. I did puppy vaccines (8, 12 and 16 weeks... lepto was included in the 12 week one - NEVER AGAIN... as my boy had a horrible reaction). Then he had his one year old booster. He did not get the distemper booster again until 7 years old. I fully believe vaccines to be effective for 5-7+ years, likely more.

So you're just preaching to the choir here. I'm just trying to help because I've come a long way too and I used to sound just like you honestly LoL. I've learned that not everything is so black/white and it's not as simple as saying "all doctors are out to get your money" when that's really not the case. Speak to the majority of veterinarians and they are in the profession because they love animals. Nobody goes to school and has thousands upon thousands dollars in debt to abuse animals or steal your money or get kickbacks from food (which in all actuality, is very little). Are there some bad apples? Of course -- just like in every profession. Are there some vets I wouldn't go to due to pushy beliefs that they learn in school? Yes. I definitely have been choosy with my vets and am sooo glad to have found my perfect vet (in my opinion) who is a perfect happy medium just like me.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Bella2017

Where are the questions? I like others opinions and advice THEN I make up my own mind after research which I always do even about myself, health wise. I had the flu shot one time 20 years ago and never had it again. Never had the flu. Look up what's in a flu shot. People just go along and do what their doctors tell them to do while all along the doctors are the ones getting the kickbacks. I'm sorry, but sometimes I just don't go with the flow. My son had the pneumonia shot, had pneumonia two weeks later, induced coma, rest is too sad for this forum. Although he came out of the coma, he was never the same. People need to educate themselves about ALL vaccines, things your dog gets but doesn't need, and for yourself. And I cannot watch a depressing video. That does not make me change what I already know.

you have been asking lots of questions coming off kinda like you knew to dog. I don't ever do anything blindly and have many reasons to back up my choices. Honestly though there really is no wrong answer it's based on your own opinions and choices. There will always be different opinions about everything especially vaccines and both sides have great resources. Vets don't really make that much money and most are not in it for the money but like everything when humans are involved there will be bad vets.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Britster

I'm not sure why you're asking so many questions if you already have your mind set/have your own answers LoL no, but you are correct about heartworm medication. Watch a dog go through heartworm treatment though and I think you'd prefer to just give the medication every month. It truly is safe. If I am wasting my money, so be it. I'd rather not take the chance. Even if it's just a 10% chance that my dog may get heartworms, I'd rather give the medicine anyway.

Here are some videos of heartworms in a dog's heart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L8116RTNOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcgZPK9BNEY
^both dogs died due to heartworm.

Uhhh yeah, no thanks! lol.

Totally agree Brit.

I would MUCH rather treat w/ preventive, than treat my dog with ARSENIC for actual heartworm. No way.

Bella2017 - yes, I think 3mths is too early for rabies. I always wait until about 6-8mths. The law often will often prefer you get it earlier, but not worth the risk to me.

I understand your hesitation w/ heartworm treatment, believe me. I'm a minimalist, like Brit. But I think you've got it wrong on this one. I understand your flu analogy - and I don't get the flu vax either. But if my dog got the dog version of, say, the "flu", I wouldn't freak out; however, if they got heartworm, I most certainly would. You have to do what you think is best though, of course.

SaveSaveSaveSaveSave

[Mayzoo]

One of my dogs died from heartworms (mid treatment) 30 years ago in way North California about an hour from Oregon. I had never heard of heartworm before then. I was still paying for the loan I took out for his treatment for about 6 months after he died.

I still remember every heart breaking, painful (for me and him) moment.

Never again if I have a say in the matter.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Mayzoo

One of my dogs died from heartworms (mid treatment) 30 years ago in way North California about an hour from Oregon. I had never heard of heartworm before then. I was still paying for the loan I took out for his treatment for about 6 months after he died.

I still remember every heart breaking, painful (for me and him) moment.

Never again if I have a say in the matter.

I'm so sorry.