THERE ARE SAFER ALTERNATIVES to flea/tick/mosquito meds.
We will not give pesticides to our dogs & cannot recommend them. HERE IS WHY.
Heartworm drugs are Pesticides and they do NOT truly prevent Heartworm. They Only Treat it. So you are CONSTANTLY TREATING them for something they do Not have in a Misguided Attempt to “Prevent” it.
You May Think:
WHY CONSTANTLY TREAT SOMETHING WITH HARMFUL MEDS THAT MY PET DOES NOT EVEN HAVE WHEN YOU CAN PREVENT IT WITH SAFE, NATURAL ALTERNATIVES???
Our Question exactly! So, Here are Some Links WITH ALTERNATIVES & Options!
We encourage you to Research things for Yourself.
It IS a choice you Can make with your veterinarian.
We have plenty of healthy dogs. Our dogs, regularly, have little to no exposure to mosquitos & get tested every 6-12 months or IF we went somewhere high risk or where there were many mosquitoes We test based on Recommendations Provided by our Dog’s Licensed Veterinarian.
We prefer Natural & Alternative Methods Of Prevention & Will/DO Treat when Needed.
You can routinely Test for Heartworm for about $45-$60 each test & then Treat it when Needed (you can test every 3-12 months as recommended by a licensed veterinarian based on your City & State).
Our vets do Not push the issue But Some Vets and Big Pharma DO Push Medications & Toxic drugs.
—> YOU are Your Pets Best Advocate though!
—> Please, Ask what Heartworm / Flea / Tick Medication does, Ask for the ingredients & Realize that Not All Areas are a high or even moderate risk for Heartworm.
I will Not give my animal Monthly Medicine that is not good for their body to TREAT something they do Not have.
I Will Proactively take steps to Prevent it & Test for it. ❤️
Here are Some Links that Help sum up WHY we feel the way we do but there is A Lot more information you can find especially if you look at actual studies & further Research.
- http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/documents/heartworm.pdf
- http://wolfcreekranchorganics.com
- https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/risks-of-heartworm-drugs/
Here is a quote from the basic Link (@DogsNaturallyMagazine):
“The word “preventive” is a misnomer. NONE of these drugs actually “prevents” heartworm. Instead, they work by killing heartworm larvae that may already be in your dog’s body. So they are really treatment drugs, not preventive drugs. And they treat a condition your dog may not even have!
Heartworm drugs are pesticides that work by paralyzing the worm’s nervous system. What might it be doing to your dog’s nervous system?
When you see the ADE reports from the FDA’s website, you’ll see that many of the side effects reported are conditions that involve the nervous system.
Does this sound like something that’s safe for your dog to take?
And all these drugs also treat other parasites like various types of intestinal worms … whether your dog has worms or not.
Again, why would you treat your dog for something he doesn’t have?”
➡️FDA warns that certain Flea/Tick/Heartworm Medications are causing ataxia, muscle tremors and seizures to the extent they plan to require Labels to now List those side-effects!!
“The FDA is working with manufacturers of isoxazoline products to include new label information to highlight neurologic events because these events were seen consistently across the isoxazoline class of products.”
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We do not have any flea or tick issues and Love using Diatomaceous Earth FOOD GRADE Powder.
—> We Recommend using it freely (avoiding inhalation) to Externally rub down your pet & sprinkle on their bedding & furniture to kill any fleas or eggs that May be present.
—> For INTERNAL PARASITES use 1/2 TSP ORALLY, ONCE, DAILY for the FIRST WEEK of getting your new puppy because it is a NATURAL Dewormer && the stress of new environments && new people can cause worms.
*You Dampen the FOOD GRADE DE to make it like a muddy texture & then put it on the roof of the mouth. The First Link Below gives Directions 😊
For INTERNAL & External Parasites::
—> https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/diatomaceous-earth-food-grade-diatomaceous-earth-10-lb?cm_vc=-10005
For EXTERNAL Parasites ONLY Unless consulting your Vet::
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/red-lake-earth-diatomaceous-earth-with-calcium-bentonite-40-lb?cm_vc=-10005
I included the section from Woodhaven Labs on Diatomaceous Earth FOOD GRADE because this is how we use it as well 😁
“Diatomaceous Earth, Food Grade (DE) helps eliminate intestinal and external parasites, which helps boost your pet's immune system by reducing the problems it has to deal with. It works in a mechanical, not chemical, manner. DE is a mineral substance formed by the fossil remains of prehistoric algae (diatoms). To the naked eye it is a powder that is fine and smooth to the touch. While non-toxic to people and pets, at the microscopic level, it is razor-sharp and is lethal to intestinal parasites and external insect pests like fleas and ticks, whose skin/shells are cut as the powder comes in contact with them. When these parasites, and their eggs and larvae, come in contact with DE they become dehydrated and die within hours.
DE is used extensively to protect and treat livestock, and is commonly used by many pet owners that avoid chemicals. It is also used by Humans to clear intestinal worms. It is not absorbed into the blood system so it has no direct effect on heartworms once they enter the body, but by eliminating external and intestinal parasites it reduces the “load” on the immune system to better deal with heartworms. When administered internally, it should be given between meals so as not to absorb nutrients in meals.
As an example, I lightly sprinkle DE on the dogs' coats and in their bedding – don't get carried away. I also lightly sprinkle DE under rugs in the house where fleas may lay eggs. Every four to six months I also give the dogs a maintenance dosage in small meat treats for a week to make sure they are clear of any intestinal worms. I have not found it very effective against ticks nor at all against mosquitos, because they do their dirty work quicker than it has time to affect them. But, my dogs have never had any other external or intestinal parasites.
A side benefit is that there is no chemical residue to linger in the body or pollute the environment. Food grade diatomaceous earth is approved by the EPA, USDA, and FDA for internal and external use.
Be very careful to use only food grade DE as there are other forms of DE on the market (such as for filters) that could be hazardous to you and your pets.” (WoodhavenLabs)
https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/blogs/learning-center/diatomaceous-earth-for-dogs
*Giardia & Coccidia are Not Worms!
Giardia must be treated with Panacur (aka Fenbendazole or alternative a Vet offers) & Coccidia must be treated with a Coccidiostat (like Toltrazuril, Corrid, Albon or an alternative a Vet offers).
Here is an Informational Link on Both Giardia & Coccidia: http://www.reproductiverevolutions.com/RR_files/Coccidiapreventiontreatment.doc
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➡️“Apple Cider Vinegar – The smell of vinegar alone is enough to repel a mosquito, but apple cider vinegar is more than just a repellent. It is a natural conditioner to the skin and hair. It is also great for adding shine and luster to the coat. A really great way to utilize ACV to repel bugs, is to steep apple cider vinegar in rosemary, lavender, neem leaf, and/or other bug repelling herbs for two weeks, shaking the jar daily. Strain herbs from the ACV and spray onto your dog. Allow to dry and do not rinse! Works great on people too and is safe on and around children as well.”
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➡️ “Essential Oils– There are many essential oils that help repel all sorts of bugs and are safe to use in dog sprays! You can substitute these essential oils into your dog’s homemade flea & tick spray, based off of what you have on hand. PLEASE REMEMBER – dogs should be thought of like babies when it comes to essential oils and the amount to use. Not only do they have sensitive noses but they also have smaller organs than we do.
Some of the essential oils you can safely mix with water & use on dog Collars, Bandanas, Canine Coats, Etc. for flea and tick prevention are: lavender, lemon, citronella, sage/clary sage, bergamot, cedarwood, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, sweet orange, and rosemary.” ⬅️
Be Cautious when using Essential Oils, ASK YOUR VET, check out this source on WHY you should Be Careful & How to Avoid Issues:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/are-essential-oils-safe-for-dogs?sfns=moLLY WOODHAVEN LABS!!
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