dog mom/dog owner shaming?

[Lovetodream88]

Does anyone ever feel dog mom or dog owner shamed? I give my babies heart worm medicine and flea and tick medicine every month. Lately it seems like people want to shame those that do it by saying well your poisoning your dog and don't you love them and stuff. It bothers me because I feel like a good dog mom. Heartguard has been around forever and I feel it is safe and much better to give that then let them get heart worms and possibly die from the very expensive treatment of that and be left with heart issues the rest of their life. I also feel like because I take mine to dog events, training (some if it is outside), and that they go potty exclusively outside that they need protection from fleas and ticks. If they do get fleas they could take over the whole house and cause them to have so many issues especially Callie with all her allergies. We also know ticks can give nasty illnesses to. Whether its a pill or a topical it still goes into their blood stream. Anyway I used to never get human mom shaming but now I get it because I feel like I'm getting dog mom shamed. I feel like I do my homework and research and do what I think it best for my babies.

[nanajoy]

I am sorry that you have been "shamed" Taylor. I give all three of mine monthly heartworm meds religiously. Even though Ty and Gus rarely go outside of our screened lanai (Beau likes to potty in the outside grass), we live in Florida and have mosquitos year round. I would never risk that a stray bug inside the screen could compromise their health. I do not give other vaccines, with the exception of rabies, unless a situation occurs which might precipitate a need (example travel to a location where lyme disease is prevalent).

I am always impressed with the research you do on so many matters, and feel that you are more than prepared to make decisions that are best for your beautiful, and well-loved pack of cuties. Although it is always hard to be criticized for decisions that you make, know that you have the right to determine what is best for your babies!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by nanajoy

I am sorry that you have been "shamed" Taylor. I give all three of mine monthly heartworm meds religiously. Even though Ty and Gus rarely go outside of our screened lanai (Beau likes to potty in the outside grass), we live in Florida and have mosquitos year round. I would never risk that a stray bug inside the screen could compromise their health. I do not give other vaccines, with the exception of rabies, unless a situation occurs which might precipitate a need (example travel to a location where lyme disease is prevalent).

I am always impressed with the research you do on so many matters, and feel that you are more than prepared to make decisions that are best for your beautiful, and well-loved pack of cuties. Although it is always hard to be criticized for decisions that you make, know that you have the right to determine what is best for your babies!

Thanks It can be so hard to make decisions for little living beings that can't talk. I try to do my best and what I think is best.

[maxdog]

There is no doubt you love your babies and would only do what you think is best for them.

[lilgidget]

Originally Posted by maxdog

There is no doubt you love your babies and would only do what you think is best for them.

[Britster]

You are damned if you do, damned if you don't in the dog world.

I have done a complete 360 because I feel like I probably used to "look down" on people who fed their dogs Purina and yada yada. Now I'm just very "meh, do what works for you and your dogs". But I still won't get myself to ever feed Beneful or Ol' Roy and I won't pump my dogs with vaccines EVERY year and I still will support certain "holistic" companies just like I support more "science based" or whatever you want to call them.

I'm very in the middle, still, myself with regards to a lot of dog issues ranging from training to food choices. But I've learned there is ZERO reason to judge dog owners on what they are doing *unless* it is causing actual harm or neglect to the dog, of course.

In regards to the heartworm meds, it is something I believe in strongly. I prefer to keep my dogs on heartworm preventive year round. That said, I know plenty of dogs here in MD who are not on it (family dogs etc) and never have been and they've always been absolutely fine. So again, who freaking knows? lol.

Flea and tick meds I'm a little more uneasy over and always have been but ticks are disgusting and carry diseases. I am still trying to figure out what to give Jackson because since he potentially has IBD now as well as pancreatitis, my vet does not want me to give Nexgard or an oral chew since if he has a reaction it will be in his system for 30 days. So I am looking into Seresto possibly or maybe even something more "natural" that I can just spray when we go outside on adventures. I usually only give flea/tick meds anyway from around May through September or October.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by maxdog

There is no doubt you love your babies and would only do what you think is best for them.

Originally Posted by lilgidget

Thank you both

[Maximo]

I have always given my boys Heartgard year round. Our region is high risk for heartworm.



Like Brittany, I'm not crazy about any of the flea and tick preventatives...but, tick disease scares me, and Teddy is highly allergic to fleas. He reacts badly to the preventatives though. Can't win!



Max and Teddy would like to shame me because I go to work 5 days a week and leave them all alone! Boyfriend spends lunchtime with them but they are not as spoiled as they used to be.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

You are damned if you do, damned if you don't in the dog world.

I have done a complete 360 because I feel like I probably used to "look down" on people who fed their dogs Purina and yada yada. Now I'm just very "meh, do what works for you and your dogs". But I still won't get myself to ever feed Beneful or Ol' Roy and I won't pump my dogs with vaccines EVERY year and I still will support certain "holistic" companies just like I support more "science based" or whatever you want to call them.

I'm very in the middle, still, myself with regards to a lot of dog issues ranging from training to food choices. But I've learned there is ZERO reason to judge dog owners on what they are doing *unless* it is causing actual harm or neglect to the dog, of course.

In regards to the heartworm meds, it is something I believe in strongly. I prefer to keep my dogs on heartworm preventive year round. That said, I know plenty of dogs here in MD who are not on it (family dogs etc) and never have been and they've always been absolutely fine. So again, who freaking knows? lol.

Flea and tick meds I'm a little more uneasy over and always have been but ticks are disgusting and carry diseases. I am still trying to figure out what to give Jackson because since he potentially has IBD now as well as pancreatitis, my vet does not want me to give Nexgard or an oral chew since if he has a reaction it will be in his system for 30 days. So I am looking into Seresto possibly or maybe even something more "natural" that I can just spray when we go outside on adventures. I usually only give flea/tick meds anyway from around May through September or October.

I give DAP and Rabies every 3 years but Lyme, bordatella and dog flu have to be done yearly. If it weren’t for Callie and her lower immune system I probably would not do the flu but I can’t risk her getting it. I guess there are somethings I have strong opinions about, we all probably do.

[matese]

I follow my vets advise, to those that shame you, shame on them. They are not veterinarians. You're an excellent fur mom.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I have always given my boys Heartgard year round. Our region is high risk for heartworm.



Like Brittany, I'm not crazy about any of the flea and tick preventatives...but, tick disease scares me, and Teddy is highly allergic to fleas. He reacts badly to the preventatives though. Can't win!



Max and Teddy would like to shame me because I go to work 5 days a week and leave them all alone! Boyfriend spends lunchtime with them but they are not as spoiled as they used to be.

I feel lucky that Callie just reacted badly to the topicals and not the oral one. Im sure they still are happy pups to be with you when they can.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by matese

I follow my vets advise, to those that shame you, shame on them. They are not veterinarians. You're an excellent fur mom.

Exactly most of the ones that do it have no veterinarian or even vet tech knowledge. Thank you.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I have always given my boys Heartgard year round. Our region is high risk for heartworm.



Like Brittany, I'm not crazy about any of the flea and tick preventatives...but, tick disease scares me, and Teddy is highly allergic to fleas. He reacts badly to the preventatives though. Can't win!



Max and Teddy would like to shame me because I go to work 5 days a week and leave them all alone! Boyfriend spends lunchtime with them but they are not as spoiled as they used to be.

Jackson and Lola also spend 4-5 days a week at home alone during the day but I find dogs are super adaptable.
Almost every other "free" moment including evenings and weekends that I have is spent with them so I try not to feel too guilty. They do a LOT more than the average dog does haha.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Exactly most of the ones that do it have no veterinarian or even vet tech knowledge. Thank you.

[Mike_and_Me]

I'm so sorry you got those comments. You are an amazing dog mom and the amount of useful information you research and share here on the forum speaks for your level of knowledge.

Over here I get dog shamed and snarky comments for caring too much about my puppy It's not pleasant but I choose to not listen to those, whose opinions don't really matter)))