flea and worm opinions

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E13

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What do you use??

Obviously there are a few options and I've heard some say that it's not necessary to pump your dog full of drugs (ie advocate + wormer), but on the other hand other products don't prevent the range of things that advocate does, like lungworm and mites (heartworm in cats). I'm not sure which one to side with?? Do you use products that cover everything, or do you do the basic fleas (but not mites etc) and worms (including tapeworm but not lungworm)?
 
Having previously used Advocate monthly, as recommended, I've long since given up in favour of Advocate twice a year and Milbemax twice a year. Advocate for everything including fleas, mites, worms, lungworm etc. and Milbemax for tape.

My dogs have never had fleas (and never a tick either, hence not using Frontline) and never any indication of worms so I feel I'm doing a reasonable minimum without bombarding them with products.

Our recommended plan at work is Stronghold monthly and Milbemax twice a year, or Frontline Combo every six to eight weeks (monthly if ticks are a concern) with Milbemax at least every three months. And they'll probably try and flog you a Scalibor collar as well. :p Very costly if you follow the recommendations.
 
Yeah I was asking about it at work because my lot are registered at a different practice to my workplace one. We generally say Advocate every 1-2 months (cats/dogs) and Drontal/Profender every 3 months. However our family vet has advised Activyl every month (I'm not sure if dogs are 1 or 2 months) and Milbemax instead of Drontal. Apparently Activyl is a new product so I'm hoping it's not the same (non)effectiveness as Frontline! But this method doesn't cover the lung/heartworms and mites etc.
 
I always use drontal as a main wormer and frontline spray (I order large bottle) and sometimes inbetween stronghold. I never have issues with worms/fleas, I just do them as and when I remember as a (just incase)
 
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I've always used frontline and drontal plus for my dog although I have just ordered some Fipnil instead of Frontline, same active ingredient but half the price (assume it's out of patent now).

Never had an issue with fleas or worms.
 
We used to use Advocate until we decided we didn't want to be putting lots of chemicals on the dogs every month. Prior to the lungworm/advocate hype we always just used Drontal once every 3-4 months so we have just gone back to this to cover majority of worms and tapeworm and then we send off for a worm count for each of the dogs to test for lungworm. They reccomend every 6 months but you could do it more often if it was cause for concern, I think. It is cheaper than advocate and it is proof they haven't got lungworm at that moment in time. If they have, I think you would treat with advocate as per vets instructions.
 
Wow, I find it amazing that you guys have to use any of that stuff. I moved to the US years ago, and brought my dogs with me. I don't remember using any of that stuff when I lived in the UK. It was just not necessary. Fleas and ticks etc. are ever present in the US but I still do not use any of those chemicals. All I ever do is get a fecal and blood test , and based on that, decide if wormer/treatment is needed. A few years ago all the Veterinary teaching Universities here changed their protocols for vaccinations, wormers etc, but the practising vets have not, and still advise their clients to do yearly vaccinations instead of the recommended 3 yearly. So, I think for the most part you are victims of your vet's income statement.
 
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Having been beset by a number of flea infested and tick ridden dogs today I can only disagree! It almost certainly doesn't need doing as often as vets recommend (I certainly don't despite having to flog the stuff) but I'd rather prevent a flea infestation than try to treat one once they're established in the house. Also not so much puppies but I've seen enough kittens coming in with flea anaemia. :(

Our practice standard is to vaccinate annually but not for everything - it's distemper, parvo and hepatitis every three years and just lepto for the two years in between.
 
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