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Old 04-22-2009, 02:26 PM   #1
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Icon2 Question for Natural Moms: Heartguard? Frontline?

This question is for all of you natural-types out there. I am 100% not a fan of dosing Meg up with chemicals or putting poisons on her back, but this is what my vet recommends. I want to get your opinion and see you've done that works (or hasn't worked).

Meg is 6 months old and 3.8 lbs. Her vet says I need to put her on heartworm and flea preventatives. Are both of these truly essential? Apparently the fleas get pretty bad here in Korea, and the mosquitoes are bad, too.

Right now I am planning to put her on the heartworm medication (Heartguard, I think?) and use a natural remedy for the fleas. I want to try the following recipe, which I found on another post.

So what has worked for you? Are certain heartworm medications better than others? Does anyone out there not use heartworm medication, or is that asking for trouble? Is there a natural alternative? And should I just put her on Frontline so I don't end up with fleas in the house? I keep hearing about how horrible the fleas are here. Thanks in advance for your help!!
Flea be Gone!

* Peppermint Oil
* Cinnamon Leaf (not Cinnamon Bark) Oil
* Lemon Grass Oil
* Clove Oil
* Thyme Oil
* A carrier oil, such as sweet almond, neem or jojoba

In a small jar fitter with an eye dropper lid, add 15mLs (1/2 oz) of a carrier oil, one drop each of Thyme, Cinnamon Leaf and Clove, and four drops each of Peppermint and Lemon Grass. Shake well before applying drops to your dog's neck and back, parting your dog's hair so that the solution is applied to the skin. Use five drops per ten lbs of body weight. Do not apply to puppies under 12 weeks of age. Apply as frequently as every two weeks. Alternately, six drops of Geranium, four drops of Peppermint, and two drops of Lavender in 15 mLs of a carrier oil can also be used to effectively repel fleas and ticks.
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Old 04-22-2009, 02:51 PM   #2
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Also, anyone ever heard of a heartworm nosode??
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Old 04-22-2009, 04:27 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikitta34 View Post
This question is for all of you natural-types out there. I am 100% not a fan of dosing Meg up with chemicals or putting poisons on her back, but this is what my vet recommends. I want to get your opinion and see you've done that works (or hasn't worked).

Meg is 6 months old and 3.8 lbs. Her vet says I need to put her on heartworm and flea preventatives. Are both of these truly essential? Apparently the fleas get pretty bad here in Korea, and the mosquitoes are bad, too.

Right now I am planning to put her on the heartworm medication (Heartguard, I think?) and use a natural remedy for the fleas. I want to try the following recipe, which I found on another post.

So what has worked for you? Are certain heartworm medications better than others? Does anyone out there not use heartworm medication, or is that asking for trouble? Is there a natural alternative? And should I just put her on Frontline so I don't end up with fleas in the house? I keep hearing about how horrible the fleas are here. Thanks in advance for your help!!
Flea be Gone!

* Peppermint Oil
* Cinnamon Leaf (not Cinnamon Bark) Oil
* Lemon Grass Oil
* Clove Oil
* Thyme Oil
* A carrier oil, such as sweet almond, neem or jojoba

In a small jar fitter with an eye dropper lid, add 15mLs (1/2 oz) of a carrier oil, one drop each of Thyme, Cinnamon Leaf and Clove, and four drops each of Peppermint and Lemon Grass. Shake well before applying drops to your dog's neck and back, parting your dog's hair so that the solution is applied to the skin. Use five drops per ten lbs of body weight. Do not apply to puppies under 12 weeks of age. Apply as frequently as every two weeks. Alternately, six drops of Geranium, four drops of Peppermint, and two drops of Lavender in 15 mLs of a carrier oil can also be used to effectively repel fleas and ticks.
I also have this recipe...I don't like using chemicals on my girls either...I have not had a problem with fleas. If I had to use anything it would definitely try this recipe! good luck and let us know how it works(if you use it)
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Old 04-22-2009, 04:41 PM   #4
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I’m too debating myself as to which brand of heartworm medicine to get, I have read in here that some people use Sentinel which guards against heartworms, roundworms, hookworms whipworms and prevents the development of flea eggs.. So I was thinking of asking my vet what she thought about it and maybe get it…but if there is something better I would too like to know..
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Old 04-22-2009, 04:43 PM   #5
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I’m too debating myself as to which brand of heartworm medicine to get, I have read in here that some people use Sentinel which guards against heartworms, roundworms, hookworms whipworms and prevents the development of flea eggs.. So I was thinking of asking my vet what she thought about it and maybe get it…but if there is something better I would too like to know..
sentinel is a good product. you have to remember to give it with food though i believe because it needs the fat to process the heartworm medication. or something like that. i got it for free from the vet hosp i worked for but still haven't used it. they told me to give it with food or the heartworm part wouldn't work, it would just work for fleas and ticks that way.
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Old 04-22-2009, 08:11 PM   #6
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Also, anyone ever heard of a heartworm nosode??
Nosodes don't work. I know people that have tried and failed.

I'd stick with the "traditional" heartworm medications.... Most of the oral HW meds aren't like the topicals that stay in their system. The oral tablets are metabolized out of their system in a few days. (I'm not sure about Sentinel though, due to the added flea prevention) Personally I'd rather give them the pill than risk them getting heartworms and needing the treatment...
If you're concerned about the drug, you could give them some sort of product for a few days after to help their liver out (Milk Thistle or Animals' Apawthecary Detox Blend)
FWIW, I prefer Interceptor.

As far as flea/tick prevention... I've never once used Frontline, Advantage, Sentinel, etc etc, and none of my kids have ever had a single flea.
Granted, I live in the city and other than an occasional rabbit in our yard, they have no way of getting them.
I've used essential oils similar to the blend you posted when we've gone into areas I know there's a possibility of fleas/ticks, and so far it seems to have worked. I mixed mine in a spray bottle of water with a tad bit of soap to help make the oils mix. Shake before spraying.... Be careful when applying oils directly to skin. I've seen some reactions if they're too strong.

You could try the oil blend.... If you get fleas anyway, well, then you'll know you need something stronger.
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Old 04-23-2009, 05:07 AM   #7
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Quote:
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Nosodes don't work. I know people that have tried and failed.

I'd stick with the "traditional" heartworm medications.... Most of the oral HW meds aren't like the topicals that stay in their system. The oral tablets are metabolized out of their system in a few days. (I'm not sure about Sentinel though, due to the added flea prevention) Personally I'd rather give them the pill than risk them getting heartworms and needing the treatment...
If you're concerned about the drug, you could give them some sort of product for a few days after to help their liver out (Milk Thistle or Animals' Apawthecary Detox Blend)
FWIW, I prefer Interceptor.


As far as flea/tick prevention... I've never once used Frontline, Advantage, Sentinel, etc etc, and none of my kids have ever had a single flea.
Granted, I live in the city and other than an occasional rabbit in our yard, they have no way of getting them.
I've used essential oils similar to the blend you posted when we've gone into areas I know there's a possibility of fleas/ticks, and so far it seems to have worked. I mixed mine in a spray bottle of water with a tad bit of soap to help make the oils mix. Shake before spraying.... Be careful when applying oils directly to skin. I've seen some reactions if they're too strong.

You could try the oil blend.... If you get fleas anyway, well, then you'll know you need something stronger.

Natural products may help keep mosquitoes away but if one that is infected does bite, then there is a problem. I know all the chemicals are scary and I hate using them too but I have decided that it is in Ellie's best interest to take something that has been proven effective.

For fleas, I think there is a bit more room for experimenting but just remember that natural isn't always safe. Arsenic is natural and it is very toxic whereas water is a sort of chemical and we have to have it.

Two common things I'd prefer to stay away from in treating fleas are garlic and tea tree oil. The essential oils can cause reactions to at the doses that they are given in.
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Old 04-23-2009, 03:00 PM   #8
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Hmmm... lots to think about.

Thank you for your replies, everyone! I am still not sure what I'm going to do... I keep thinking, "What would I put on my children?" (This is hypothetical since I don't have children.) Can a human being get heartworm from being bitten, or do we have certain antibodies that fight off the parasite?

Here's another question... how hard is it to get rid of heartworm once a dog has it? Meg gets tested for it at least 2x/year. Frankly, I'd rather test her for it 6x/year than put her on the medication. If it's caught early enough, it is very treatable, correct?

Am I crazy to think of doing that? Get her blood drawn every 2 months instead of pumping her full of medication... Then obviously if she was to get them, I'd have to put her on medication to get rid of them, but.... what are the chances she will ever get it?
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Old 04-23-2009, 04:29 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Nikitta34 View Post
Hmmm... lots to think about.

Thank you for your replies, everyone! I am still not sure what I'm going to do... I keep thinking, "What would I put on my children?" (This is hypothetical since I don't have children.) Can a human being get heartworm from being bitten, or do we have certain antibodies that fight off the parasite?

Here's another question... how hard is it to get rid of heartworm once a dog has it? Meg gets tested for it at least 2x/year. Frankly, I'd rather test her for it 6x/year than put her on the medication. If it's caught early enough, it is very treatable, correct?

Am I crazy to think of doing that? Get her blood drawn every 2 months instead of pumping her full of medication... Then obviously if she was to get them, I'd have to put her on medication to get rid of them, but.... what are the chances she will ever get it?
I've heard that heartworm treatment is similar to chemo- it just takes it out of them- not worth the risk if you ask me. I, like many others, HATE giving heart worm meds.... but i'd die if anything ever happened to Layla because i neglected to give her something she needs...this year we are using interceptor- it is just heartworm.. no flea or tick meds in it.
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Old 04-23-2009, 04:34 PM   #10
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Neem oil is also a very good flea remedy. I found some at Petco today, in the natural foods/products section.
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Old 04-23-2009, 04:37 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Nikitta34 View Post
Hmmm... lots to think about.

Thank you for your replies, everyone! I am still not sure what I'm going to do... I keep thinking, "What would I put on my children?" (This is hypothetical since I don't have children.) Can a human being get heartworm from being bitten, or do we have certain antibodies that fight off the parasite?

Here's another question... how hard is it to get rid of heartworm once a dog has it? Meg gets tested for it at least 2x/year. Frankly, I'd rather test her for it 6x/year than put her on the medication. If it's caught early enough, it is very treatable, correct?

Am I crazy to think of doing that? Get her blood drawn every 2 months instead of pumping her full of medication... Then obviously if she was to get them, I'd have to put her on medication to get rid of them, but.... what are the chances she will ever get it?
Treating a dog with heartworms is very hard on the dog and can kill them, if the heartworms don't. its very hard to treat and is not worth the risk. you can test all you want, but its not going to prevent it from happening. I believe it takes 5-6 months after the dog is infected for it to show up in a test. so you cannot catch it early.
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Old 04-23-2009, 06:22 PM   #12
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For those of you useing a flea and tick preventive that isn't an all natural one should read this.

Increased Scrutiny of Flea and Tick Control Products for Pets | Pesticides | US EPA
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Old 04-23-2009, 10:09 PM   #13
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It is so hard to know what to do! Being a mom is a lot of work.

Thanks for the info about the heartworm treatment. I didn't konw it was that intense.
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