Heartworm, flea, and tick preventative?

[CeeCee]

Thank you CraignSteph and Bean2eat for the links I'll check them out. I spoke with my holistic vet again and I've decided to go with the natural route. We're going to be using a two prong approach. First, they're on http://www.earthanimal.com/flea-tick-program/earth-animal-internal-powder.html and then we'll be using a combination of natural oils to act as a repellent.

In case anyone is interested, here's the recipe:
Lavendar
Lemon Grass
Peppermint
Bergamot
Eucalyptus
Geranium
Mix 1:1:1:1:1:1 and apply directly to collar.

This combination (minus the peppermint) can be used for humans as well.

- - - OR - - -

Mix 1 teaspoon of each with 4 cups of distilled pure water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray.

Also, here's an article that I thought really breaks down how heartworm infects dogs.

In speaking with her, she also shared that if a dog becomes infected, there is holistic treatment that is not arsenic based. She's treated six dogs that came Katrina who were heartworm positive. They are now healthy and heartworm free. (That was a BIG tipping point for me. I didn't know there was a holistic treatment.)

And because I know that we have people from all over the world on this forum, she did say that if we lived in the south where temperatures don't drop low enough for a long enough period of time, she might be recommending something else. (We live in upstate New York and often drop below 62 degrees.)

 

[CeeCee]

Thank you CraignSteph and Bean2eat for the links I'll check them out. I spoke with my holistic vet again and I've decided to go with the natural route. We're going to be using a two prong approach. First, they're on http://www.earthanimal.com/flea-tick-program/earth-animal-internal-powder.html and then we'll be using a combination of natural oils to act as a repellent.

In case anyone is interested, here's the recipe:
Lavendar
Lemon Grass
Peppermint
Bergamot
Eucalyptus
Geranium
Mix 1:1:1:1:1:1 and apply directly to collar.

This combination (minus the peppermint) can be used for humans as well.

- - - OR - - -

Mix 1 teaspoon of each with 4 cups of distilled pure water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray.

Also, here's an article that I thought really breaks down how heartworm infects dogs.

In speaking with her, she also shared that if a dog becomes infected, there is holistic treatment that is not arsenic based. She's treated six dogs that came Katrina who were heartworm positive. They are now healthy and heartworm free. (That was a BIG tipping point for me. I didn't know there was a holistic treatment.)

And because I know that we have people from all over the world on this forum, she did say that if we lived in the south where temperatures don't drop low enough for a long enough period of time, she might be recommending something else. (We live in upstate New York and often drop below 62 degrees.)

FYI, the oils in the recipe are ESSENTIAL oils.

 

[thelady_v2010]

I HAVE to go get something today, I have picked 4 ticks off Menace this week and my skin is crawling. We spent a day at my MILs and he spent some time in the tree line. Apparently the ticks are bad this year, I have also found 3 in my house.

It looks like it may be Frontline. Another vet tried to sell me Certifex, but the reviews for that are pretty bad.

 

[ruthcatrin]

if you JUST want tick prevetion look at the Preventic collar. They work really well, but in heavy tick areas I recommend switching them out a couple weeks earlier than normal.

 

[thelady_v2010]

if you JUST want tick prevetion look at the Preventic collar. They work really well, but in heavy tick areas I recommend switching them out a couple weeks earlier than normal.

I am hoping for fleas and ticks. I don't want fleas brought in to the cats. Of course, now I am on research overload. One vet carries the Vectra 3D which repels fleas and ticks. Frontline just kills them after they already are there. But, there are some negative reviews of Vectra. Another vet suggested Certifex, which also has negative reviews. Fleas and ticks are bad here.

 

[ruthcatrin]

We used Vectra 3D last year, and it actually worked quite well, my BIG concern is that it only repells misquitos not prevents heartworm, plus I didn't need the other coverage. We use Revolution (heartworm and fleas) with a preventic collar, I'm just going to have to find an alternative by the end of the summer cause Apollo's about to out grow the collars.....

 

[thelady_v2010]

We used Vectra 3D last year, and it actually worked quite well, my BIG concern is that it only repells misquitos not prevents heartworm, plus I didn't need the other coverage. We use Revolution (heartworm and fleas) with a preventic collar, I'm just going to have to find an alternative by the end of the summer cause Apollo's about to out grow the collars.....

I also give him heartguard.

 

[ruthcatrin]

ah, donno then, I may go homeopathic, at least with Apollo, and see how that works for ticks, I hate using what are essentially poisons, but I CAN"T STAND TICKS....

 

[Boxergirl]

Please everyone be careful using essential oils on your pets. Dogs do pretty well with most of them, but cats are a different story. EO's should also be mixed with a carrier instead of used neat to help prevent developing a sensitivity. I make handcrafted bath and body products and had considered starting a line for pets, but the risks involved made me decide otherwise. Just be cautious and research all ingredients before putting them on your pets - particularly cats.

 

[Tunride]

I use Diatomaceous Earth in yard, around baseboards, work some down into carpet, etc. It kill most insects, and stops ants. You can get non- food grade at Tractor Supply. Can be used on pets too. For use Diatomaceous Earth Human Use, Natural Health Benefits, and Information for Humans I also use Pet Armor on dogs monthly. I have no grass in our back yard, just mulch and sidewalks it's small.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Unfortunetly with 2 acres that backs onto multi hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat treating the whole yard, or even modiying the whole yard like that isn't going to work for me.

 

[CeeCee]

Please everyone be careful using essential oils on your pets. Dogs do pretty well with most of them, but cats are a different story. EO's should also be mixed with a carrier instead of used neat to help prevent developing a sensitivity. I make handcrafted bath and body products and had considered starting a line for pets, but the risks involved made me decide otherwise. Just be cautious and research all ingredients before putting them on your pets - particularly cats.

Very true! My Holistic Vet was very careful to say that the above oils are not to be used on the cats; instead you want to use Neem Oil for them.