Worming Questions

[Ahona]

I've heard lots of talk about Advatage and Interceptor, are those all in ones that protect against ticks and fleas too? So if I use that, will I just need the one treatment for all sorts of nasties including heartworm?

How often do you need to use it? How much does it cost per dose?

Thank you for your help!

a. (otherwise known as clueless puppy owner)

[goldielover]

Hi Ahona,

There are quite a few different treatments out there. It's a matter of figuring out what you need. You will need heartworm prevention and you will need an intestinal wormer. Other than about 4 years ago when one of my girls came home from another breeder, we have never had fleas, but it may be a different issue where you are. I prefer to give my girls as few chemicals as possible. I use Interceptor Spectrum (which does heartworm and intestinal worms) and i have Advantage (a spot on flea/tick product) in the cupboard but have never had to use it. Do a bit of a search on other products such as Advantix, Revolution, Advocate, Sentinel Spectrum, etc. People also find that different products work for different dogs, so it can be a matter of trial and error. If your neighbours have dogs, check to see if there is a flea problem in the area.

ETA: The cheapest place to buy any of the above products is: www.pricelesspets.com.au . It is run from a vet surgery in Brisbane.

Edited December 28, 2007 by goldielover

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

We use sentinel spectrum on a monthly basis which covers us for all worms and Advantix for paralysis tick which we use fortnightly.

We also purchase from pricelesspets

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

If you haven't already done so, could I suggest a visit to your vet for their advice and opinions on these products?

Everyone here uses a particular product b/c they have found what works for their dogs and their situations.

For example, my dogs are all on Interceptor Spectrum, covering all intestinal worms and heartworm. It's a single dose tablet given monthly. As we live in Darwin, fleas can be a problem, as can brown dog (cattle) ticks. For those, when I see a flea or tick on one of the dogs, I use Frontline Plus in the single-dose NOT the spray.

It took some "trial and error" for me to discover what my dogs tolerate the best and what is most effective for the pests/parasites in question. Some vets make recommendations that don't work; others make recommendations that do work but that you can't afford if you buy from your vet clinic. I buy my products from priceless pets (www.pricelesspets.com.au). They're the cheapest I've found and the products always have plenty of time before expiring.

[Ahona]

Thank you so much for your advice everyone

GL, I know I've asked this on the retrievers thread but I couldn't find it via a forum search, so asked again.

I don't think we have tick or flea issues, so I might get Advantage just in case and use Interceptor for worms. That starts from between 3-5 months right?

I will have a chat to the vet when we take him, we don't actually have him at home with us yet, he's just 6 weeks old. Just doing research so I can order products ready for when I have him here!

Thanks!

a xx

[Mystiqview]

Here are some other places to look at. They are all Brisabne based as well.

These sites give a little bit more information on the products. What they cover and what they don't. You really have to read the label to see what they exactly cover and what they don't. Especially when it comes to tapeworms. Some cover some tapeworms, but not the hydatid tapeworm which is more serious. So you will need a tapewormer product as well.

The Vet Shed

Vet Products Direct

Others have posted the links to priceless pets.

Like what others have said, it all depends on what you work out works best for you.

Heartworm: Proheart monthly tables

Fleas/ticks: advantix

All Worm: Paratak Plus or Drontal (Alternate between the two)

I personally do not like top spots for worming. I prefer something you shove down the gob as you know that it is in there and has the best chance of working. I am sure the top spots work fine.. But for me.. I use something that I know is in the system. I also then lock up my dogs for 24 hours and check the poos to make sure if there are any worms coming out. This comes back from horses, where you do this to make sure you have got the worms. So it has for me followed through with the dogs.

With the top spots, the error of margin is so great on these products. If you check with Bayer or any of the other companies, you can put a 40kg top spot on a 10kg dog without any ill effects.. that has to make you think about the concentration of the active ingredient(s) if you are able to do this.

[Ahona]

Thanks Mystiqview

I'm even more thoroughly confused now lol.

A product like Interceptor Spectrum, would that guard against tapeworms? I don't think ticks and fleas are an issue where we live and Spud will be indoors anyway, so that should be okay.

What age do I start worming him?

The three products you listed, are they the ones you use on your own dogs?

Thanks!

a.

[Mystiqview]

Ahona,

The ones I listed are what I use on my own dogs.

I will have to go into the vet and ask specifically what Spectrum covers. There was another thread on it and for what I could find out by going to the online places that sell it, it says it does tapeworm, but does not list Hydatids. The products that do these type of tapeworms normally specify that they do them..

He should have been wormed at his breeder from 2 weeks onwards.

The general all worming guide is:

Every two weeks until they are 12 weeks of age

then every month until 6 months,

then every three months for the rest of their lives.

Drontal is the best all wormer.. It has the highest hit rate, and is for most dogs, the most gentlest on the stomach as compared to other brands. Paratak Plus is slightly cheaper and comes in second to Drontal. With all wormers you should rotate the brands a little as they have different compositions and this is to also check to make sure worms do not become tolerant to one brand.

Heartworm:

I use Proheart as while it is a moxydectin product and some collies will react to it, it has a two week reach back. I give a tablet to my puppies at 8 weeks before they leave me, then every month for the rest of the dogs life.

I cannot use products like Heartguard and some other heartworm products as they are Ivemectin based and they should not be used in collie breeds.

There are daily heart worm products that you can buy.. the downside to this, is they should be given at roughly the same time every day.. You have to remember to give it to them.

If the dog has not been on heartworm treatment (puppies excempt) then they should be tested at a vet for heartworm before going onto any heartworm medication. This would be for adult dogs or dogs bought from a rescue or rescued where you do not know the history of the dog.

Fleas/ticks: I am in high paralysis tick area.. While our property here has been paralysis tick free for the last 15 years.. it is something I will not get complacent about. That is to say, I do not always give Advantix/Frontline Plus or the other tick products every two weeks, but I do twice daily checks of my dogs for paralysis ticks. Even on tick preventatives, at least a daily check should be done on dogs in paralysis tick areas.

[Mystiqview]

All I will say on Paralysis ticks..

If your dog goes outside, it can get ticks. Possums, Magpies, Bats, kangaroos etc.. are all native hosts to paralysis ticks.. If they are in your area.. then the dog can pick them up.

If you go to the park where there is long grass and a creek.. and your area is a paralysis tick area, you can pick up a tick.

It can take only one paralysis tick on the dog for 24 hours (or less in some cases)to cause paralysis. To get this treated by the vet will set you back $300 or more. Depending on the severity of paralysis. If severe paralysis occurs. the dog will die, or may suffer heart of lung problems for the rest of its life. As the paralysis attacks a large muscle.. And can leave scarring.

Some areas do not have paralysis ticks.. common dog ticks if enough get on an animal can cause paralysis.. they are certainly not as big an issue as paralysis ticks

[Ahona]

Thanks Mystiqview! I really appreciate you taking the time to type that up for me

We're getting Spud from a breeder and he will have been wormed, so I will probably have a chat to the breeder and see what he is using for his dogs too. Heartworm medicine should be okay, because he will just be a pup when we get him.

I'm in melbourne and don't think we have paralysis ticks in this area, nor is it very flea prone, so I reckon I might go with a natural neem based spray for that!

Thanks so much again!

a;

[Mystiqview]

Ahona,

Your breeder should be able to give you what medications the puppy is on, as well as that worming regime. Do not forget to ask about any heartworm medications, as not all breeders heartworm their puppies. Many up here do.. again climate related.. Most I know use daily tablets.. I dont like them only cause I forget to give them daily.. I prefer the monthly ones.. 1st month, heartworm.

I am sure other people who are in Melbourne should be able to tell you about fleas..

But with warm weather and rain.. Tis a season they love and thrive in..

Capstar is also a good flea tablet. This only kills the adult fleas on the dog. It is good to be followed up with frontline plus or advantage (fleas only version) which breaks the cycle on the dog by killing the pupae and eggs.

But both of those products fall down if the house/yard has a flea infestation, as you are constantly reintroducing fleas back to the dog.. So if that ever is the case, you should also wash bedding, vacuum carpets and if necessary set off flea bombs in the house and go for a spin away for a day.

There is bedding that uses dacron (pillow stuffing) and shadecloth which inhibit the growth of flea nests. Both of those products fleas dont like to live in.

[Ahona]

Thanks again! I'm going to bookmark this thread for future reference, because of all the aspects of owning a new puppy, worming and tick/flea protection has me completely stumped!!

We're going to see Spuddie boy tomorrow, so will have a chat to the breeder then If they're not watching the footy that is

[Poodle wrangler]

I use Interceptor Spectrum- covers heartworm and most intestinal worms. Monthly tablet.

As a pup, I also used Drontal for intestinal worms- given mid-month (i.e. about 2 weeks after Interceptor Spectrum).

Some people say to worm pups fortnightly when young- but check with your breeder what the latest thinking is.

I'm in a paralysis tick area so also use Advantix to cover fleas, mozzies and ticks. For ticks, it must be used fortnightly. Monthly for the others.

[Mystiqview]

Poodle Wrangler,

Have you heard different to the 'old' worming regime??

I have not heard any different recently from what I had posted earlier.

[Poodle wrangler]

Poodle Wrangler,

Have you heard different to the 'old' worming regime??

I have not heard any different recently from what I had posted earlier.

Every two weeks until they are 12 weeks of age

then every month until 6 months,

then every three months for the rest of their lives.

No, but I wasn't sure. Ideas can change on what's "best treatment" from time to time.

Some suggest here that we might be overdoing it with all the various anti-flea, anti-worm, anti-everything treatments, but I prefer to be cautious and take a trusted vet's advice. I don't want dogs to have worms, fleas or ticks, so I treat them according to current vet advice. Prefer pharmaceutical products too as "natural" doesn't necessarily mean less toxic.

Edited December 28, 2007 by Poodle wrangler

[Mystiqview]

Some suggest here that we might be overdoing it with all the various anti-flea, anti-worm, anti-everything treatments, but I prefer to be cautious and take a trusted vet's advice. I don't want dogs to have worms, fleas or ticks, so I treat them according to current vet advice. Prefer pharmaceutical products too as "natural" doesn't necessarily mean less toxic.

I am glad you put that in.. Natural does not mean it is harmless. Some of the worst poisons are found naturally.

[Ahona]

Thank you! I spoke to the breeder today as well and we helped him worm the puppies :D He recommended every 2 weeks and said a full spectrum one is good, plus a tick and flea treatment. So we'll probably go with Sentinel Spectrum and Advantage.

[Poodle wrangler]

Now I'm confused :D - Sentinel Spectrum covers fleas, so does Advantage, so why double up?

Advantage does NOT cover ticks.

[Ahona]

Oh oops :D I thought Advantage did. What covers ticks then??

Eitherway, there are no paralysis ticks around this area and Spud will be inside until he's 16 weeks, at which point we should be moving into cooler weather, so I'm not very worried about ticks. Fleas are more of a concern!

[laffi]

Advantix covers fleas, ticks, mozzies

Advocate - all (most) wormer + fleas

Sentinel Spectrum - allwormer+ fleas

Interceptor Spectrum - allwormer

I would suggest Intercptor Spectrum + Advantix if you worry about the ticks, if not I would either use Advocate or Sentinel Spectrum (they are more or less equivalent so definitely do not use both).

Edited December 29, 2007 by laffi