Is Advocate Necessary Every Month?

[judy69]

I use Advocate monthly on my dog. We are travelling around Australia and I would prefer to have him protected for all the areas we are going into. I think better to be safe than sorry.

[Remarkabull]

I haven't treated my dogs for fleas in years (they haven't had any)and they only get wormed once or twice a year. They do get given a heartworm tablet once a month but that is the only regular medication they receive. They get vaccinated as puppies and I wouldn't get them done again, however Darwin is a bit backwards and I have to have the Dobe done again so he will be accepted into a boarding kennel at the end of the month. I have asked a number of vets up here about titre testing and a few looked at me blankly, a few lectured me on why I should vaccinate my dog and only one has actually looked into it for me and called me back with a price ($250 )

I figure that if your dog NEEDS medication then absolutely give it to them but if not why?

[Kavik]

I have a dog with skin issues (don't want to risk fleas which might make him worse) and live in a high tick area, so use flea/tick treatment monthly year round.

[oakway]

As i live in Qld. I treat for everything monthly.

Just curious how does living in QLD make a difference?

We use interceptor monthly and only treat for fleas if we've seen 1 on the dogs or they have been in contact with someone else's pet that has had fleas. We check for ticks but never had one but when we were in Rockhampton for work treated them for ticks as we were warned of them being bad in that area.

We have lots of mozzies here the bad kind and because of the climate we can have a hook/whip worm problem.

Prevention is better than cure. :)

[Crisovar]

As i live in Qld. I treat for everything monthly.

Just curious how does living in QLD make a difference?

We use interceptor monthly and only treat for fleas if we've seen 1 on the dogs or they have been in contact with someone else's pet that has had fleas. We check for ticks but never had one but when we were in Rockhampton for work treated them for ticks as we were warned of them being bad in that area.

We have lots of mozzies here the bad kind and because of the climate we can have a hook/whip worm problem.

Prevention is better than cure. :)

This is the crux of the matter, every area has a different set of risks to weigh up.

The climate has also created new issues like Paralysis Tick in areas where they have not been previously, thanks to the boost in Bandicoot numbers after the flooding.

Some areas have experienced Flea plagues and I know several Breeders who have had issues with hookworm due to the soil not drying out at all for months on end.

[WeimMe]

It depends what you are using it for.

If you use it just for flea control, then you could just treat him as needed if you see fleas on him - this is what I do for my dog with Comfortis. Same thing for worms really - I do all of my animals (and family members!) every school holidays so every three months or so. You can pick up some Drontal from the vet for that. As for ticks, I guess it depends on if you have them often in your area, how regularly you check your dog etc. I don't use a tick preventer unless I am going away and won't be able to check the dogs myself but it is a risk.

You will have to make sure that you get your dog on some kind of heartworm preventative though - the chew, tablets or the annual shot.

[SupaDupa Mini Cooper]

I have wondered what the maximum time between doses is for the heartworm treatment to be effective in Advocate.

I am currently treating monthly, but a friend of mine said she was told by a vet every 6 weeks is still ok. The reason we chose this treatment is that it covers all bases in one dose, although it is recommended to treat with a wormer (e.g Drontal) every 3 months as well because Advocate doesn't cover tapeworms (which is what I worry will be passed on to the kids or us). Fleas carry the intestinal worms, so preventing fleas prevents worms, and heartworm is carried by mozzies...

I would prefer to prevent them all, but at the same time I don't want to overload his system or pay more than I have to.

[Sandra777]

Nothing can PREVENT fleas or worms - everything on the market kills the fleas and worms AFTER the dog has them!

[SupaDupa Mini Cooper]

Nothing can PREVENT fleas or worms - everything on the market kills the fleas and worms AFTER the dog has them!

Advocate kills fleas on contact with the skin without them having to bite the animal because the chemical is in the fat on the skin surface (how the spot on works) - therefore a preventative. Sentinel as far as I know needs the flea to bite first (the chemical being in the bloodstream). Worms definitely is a treatment, but if you can prevent the infection via fleas then I guess it is the same.

This is what my research has led me to believe anyway.

[nowstarin]

Nothing can PREVENT fleas or worms - everything on the market kills the fleas and worms AFTER the dog has them!

Your statement is unfortunately incorrect.

Actually advocate DOES PREVENT worms and fleas.

It is unique in that the Active ingredients ie. moxidectin and imidicloprid work very differently to all other treatments..

Re worms: the active ingredient of moxidectin disperses through the skin and is dissemminated to the required internal organs via the bloodstream to the various sites, organs and muscles. unlike other wormers that circulate ONCE through the GI tracts.

Advocate is the only product that kills all intestinal worms (and all larval stages of such) ie hookworm, whipworm, roundworm (of various species) and heartworm too. Advocate actually can treat heartworm affected dogs, although it is a particularly slow method of treatment of this affliction , Advocate also PREVENTS acquiring any new infections of all intestinal worms and heartworm by way of acheiving what is called "Steady State" Blood plasma levels rise and fall for the first 3 months of treatment and accumulate each time until the plasma level acheives steady state, whereby your pet is now unable to get infected by new worms at all.

Using advocate kills and evacuates accumulated worms, then PROTECTS them against getting any new ones regardless of the exposure to worms in any form ie environment, faeces ect.

With regard to tapeworm, dogs and cats get tapeworm from ingesting FLEAS. If your dog has been treated or is on flea control your pets cannot get tapeworm. Advocate does not do tapeworm because it keeps your pets flea free. If you have NEVER treated for fleas then you could worm once with a tapewormer ie droncit when commencing with advocate. After that point ( if you use advocate) there is no use treating for tapeworm because your pet wont have it.

Imidicloprid is 100% effective to kill fleas (on contact) and other external parasites and has full efficacy for the whole month of treatment. Fleas do not bite to get a dose and they are killed within 3 - 5 minutes. Flea Allergy dermatitis is caused by the saliva of the flea biting.

Imidicloprid disperses to, then sits in the lipid layer of skin which is waterfast. It is where the hair follicles originate so each hair shaft is hosting the active ingredient for the full one month.

Advocate also treats Demodectic and sarcoptic mange mites, ear mites, lice.

Advocate therefore is the best PROTECTION for all parasites.

You DO NOT NEED TO TEST FOR HEARTWORM PRIOR TO USE OF ADVOCATE. IT is 100% effective for prevention of heartworm too.

I hope this helps.

Edited May 8, 2012 by nowstarin

[Sandra777]

Nothing can PREVENT fleas or worms - everything on the market kills the fleas and worms AFTER the dog has them!

Your statement is unfortunately incorrect.

Actually advocate DOES PREVENT worms and fleas.

It is unique in that the Active ingredients ie. moxidectin and imidicloprid work very differently to all other treatments..

Re worms: the active ingredient of moxidectin disperses through the skin and is dissemminated to the required internal organs via the bloodstream to the various sites, organs and muscles. unlike other wormers that circulate ONCE through the GI tracts.

Advocate is the only product that kills all intestinal worms (and all larval stages of such) ie hookworm, whipworm, roundworm (of various species) and heartworm too. Advocate actually can treat heartworm affected dogs, although it is a particularly slow method of treatment of this affliction , Advocate also PREVENTS acquiring any new infections of all intestinal worms and heartworm by way of acheiving what is called "Steady State" Blood plasma levels rise and fall for the first 3 months of treatment and accumulate each time until the plasma level acheives steady state, whereby your pet is now unable to get infected by new worms at all.

Using advocate kills and evacuates accumulated worms, then PROTECTS them against getting any new ones regardless of the exposure to worms in any form ie environment, faeces ect.

With regard to tapeworm, dogs and cats get tapeworm from ingesting FLEAS. If your dog has been treated or is on flea control your pets cannot get tapeworm. Advocate does not do tapeworm because it keeps your pets flea free. If you have NEVER treated for fleas then you could worm once with a tapewormer ie droncit when commencing with advocate. After that point ( if you use advocate) there is no use treating for tapeworm because your pet wont have it.

Imidicloprid is 100% effective to kill fleas (on contact) and other external parasites and has full efficacy for the whole month of treatment. Fleas do not bite to get a dose and they are killed within 3 - 5 minutes. Flea Allergy dermatitis is caused by the saliva of the flea biting.

Imidicloprid disperses to, then sits in the lipid layer of skin which is waterfast. It is where the hair follicles originate so each hair shaft is hosting the active ingredient for the full one month.

Advocate also treats Demodectic and sarcoptic mange mites, ear mites, lice.

Advocate therefore is the best PROTECTION for all parasites.

You DO NOT NEED TO TEST FOR HEARTWORM PRIOR TO USE OF ADVOCATE. IT is 100% effective for prevention of heartworm too.

I hope this helps.

Nothing can PREVENT a dog getting fleas/worms in to it's system/on it's skin if it is exposed to them except perhaps a force field or plastic wrap.

The product could well kill better and faster than any other product but it can not physically PREVENT the worms/fleas in whatever form actually entering/touching the dog's body - simple logic suggests the worms/fleas/whatever have to enter or touch the dog's body in order for a product in/on the dog's body to kill them.

Whether it is better or faster acting than any other product is a totally different argument - but AFAIK it is not a flea-and-worm-repelling force field.

Your whole advertising spiel is wasted on me - I'm definitely opposed to such constant and unnecessary chemical exposure for my dogs.

Edited May 8, 2012 by Sandra777

[RiverStar-Aura]

AFAIK I thought a test for heartworm is required before using ANY heartworm preventative because one of the ingredients can actually kill a dog if it is infected.

I don't use Advocate anyway so it's all good for me and as it's winter I've stopped using flea and tick preventatives. I've got Comfortis and Capstar on hand just in case.

[nowstarin]

AFAIK I thought a test for heartworm is required before using ANY heartworm preventative because one of the ingredients can actually kill a dog if it is infected.

I don't use Advocate anyway so it's all good for me and as it's winter I've stopped using flea and tick preventatives. I've got Comfortis and Capstar on hand just in case.

As I stated before, Advocate actually TREATS heartworm affected dogs and protects again acquiring new Heartworm. All other types of treatments Do require testing prior to use. With advocate it is not required and is a vet recommended SLOW treatment for some particular cases.

By the way, what is AFAIK???????

And for Sandra777 It is in no way an advertising speil, it is a factual account to dispel incorrect information that is constantly conveyed via forums to the uninformed.

I specialise in Parasitology for companion animals and lecture every day.

Also further to your belief in repellency there is only ONE product registered for Repellency and that is Advantix.

Sometimes, long held beliefs become cemented in peoples minds and new knowledge or differing views, with factual and scientific basis, offends. Re your belief in not using "Chemicals" - the active ingredient I spoke about ie Imidicloprid is not a "chemical" as such and is actually used on 90% of edible food crops in australia and is ingested by humans every day of the week. Toxic overload in this instance is not applicable.

[Erny]

By the way, what is AFAIK???????

AFAIK = As Far As I Know

Reads a bit like a cuss word though, doesn't it, lol.

[Erny]

Re your belief in not using "Chemicals" - the active ingredient I spoke about ie Imidicloprid is not a "chemical" as such and is actually used on 90% of edible food crops in australia and is ingested by humans every day of the week. Toxic overload in this instance is not applicable.

From Wikipedia :

Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide which acts as an insect neurotoxin and belongs to a class of chemicals called the neonicotinoids which act on the central nervous system of insects with much lower toxicity to mammals. The chemical works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Specifically, it causes a blockage in the nicotinergic neuronal pathway. This blockage leads to the accumulation of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter, resulting in the insect's paralysis, and eventually death. It is effective on contact and via stomach action.[1] Because imidacloprid binds much more strongly to insect neuron receptors than to mammal neuron receptors, this insecticide is selectively more toxic to insects than mammals.[2]

Although it is now off patent, the primary manufacturer of this chemical is Bayer CropScience, (part of Bayer AG). It is sold under many names for many uses. Imidacloprid is one of the most widely used insecticides and can be applied by soil injection, tree injection, application to the skin, broadcast foliar, ground application as a granular or liquid formulation, or as a pesticide-coated seed treatment.[3][4]

Contents

Going by the Wiki definition, it IS a chemical.

[SupaDupa Mini Cooper]

Going by the Wiki definition, it IS a chemical.

Not that I want to get into arguments, but yes it is called a chemical, but so is table salt and endless other foods and substances we use on or in our bodies. Being called a "chemical" does not make it harmful, it simply has a formula of the elements that make it up.

Not all chemicals are bad.

[Jumabaar]

AFAIK I thought a test for heartworm is required before using ANY heartworm preventative because one of the ingredients can actually kill a dog if it is infected.

I don't use Advocate anyway so it's all good for me and as it's winter I've stopped using flea and tick preventatives. I've got Comfortis and Capstar on hand just in case.

It isn't the ingredient that is harmful to dogs- you need to get tested because if you have an infection and use the products you kill the worms which can then cause blockages. With bad infections surgery may be warranted or careful killing of the worms under veterinary guidance. Ivermectin and a few other drugs can be used to do this- in higher concentrations than you usually use in preventative treatments.

Treatment of heart worm can kill dogs due to worms blocking blood vessels so testing is always recommended prior to treatment if the animal has been in a heart worm area for a number of months. The dog is required to be kept quiet for a number of weeks after treatment- even in cases where there have only been a few adult worms.

Heartguard works by killing baby worms that have been injected into the dog by mosquitos- once they have spent 6weeks in the dog they mature past the point where that level of ivermectin will work. It is generally recommended to do it every 4weeks so that you have a small amount of leeway if you forget and to make sure you have got all worms before they mature.

Same with worms- the dog will have ingested the worms and you kill them. Having a small worm burden isn't a problem in a normal healthy dog- their immune systems stop some worms from maturing and generally keep the population relatively low. You treat with a wormer and kill the worms that are in the GIT. Some people chose to get a vet to look at a fecal sample to see if any worms are actually active and producing eggs and if there aren't any then there is no need to worm the dog.

[nowstarin]

AFAIK I thought a test for heartworm is required before using ANY heartworm preventative because one of the ingredients can actually kill a dog if it is infected.

I don't use Advocate anyway so it's all good for me and as it's winter I've stopped using flea and tick preventatives. I've got Comfortis and Capstar on hand just in case.

It isn't the ingredient that is harmful to dogs- you need to get tested because if you have an infection and use the products you kill the worms which can then cause blockages. With bad infections surgery may be warranted or careful killing of the worms under veterinary guidance. Ivermectin and a few other drugs can be used to do this- in higher concentrations than you usually use in preventative treatments.

Treatment of heart worm can kill dogs due to worms blocking blood vessels so testing is always recommended prior to treatment if the animal has been in a heart worm area for a number of months. The dog is required to be kept quiet for a number of weeks after treatment- even in cases where there have only been a few adult worms.

Heartguard works by killing baby worms that have been injected into the dog by mosquitos- once they have spent 6weeks in the dog they mature past the point where that level of ivermectin will work. It is generally recommended to do it every 4weeks so that you have a small amount of leeway if you forget and to make sure you have got all worms before they mature.

Same with worms- the dog will have ingested the worms and you kill them. Having a small worm burden isn't a problem in a normal healthy dog- their immune systems stop some worms from maturing and generally keep the population relatively low. You treat with a wormer and kill the worms that are in the GIT. Some people chose to get a vet to look at a fecal sample to see if any worms are actually active and producing eggs and if there aren't any then there is no need to worm the dog.

[nowstarin]

Jumbaar What a load of goobblededock. Inaccuracies all through this. urghhhh. When I have time I may respond to these inaccuracies.

[Jumabaar]

,

Edited May 11, 2012 by Jumabaar