Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Flea and Tick Control products

My husband bought a dose of Frontline the other day but I told him that there were several people on this board that are concerned that Frontline triggered their dog's IMHA...so we ordered some Cloud Nine dip from Halo Pets but I am wondering what you guys may have used and your success stories. Thanks in advance, for sharing...from a worried doggie mom. Lee

Lee Florida

I can only speak for myself and I refuse to use any of it on Sway anymore. I know for a fact that Frontline has caused negative downturns in numerous animals health.. People here can co-sign that statement and Jan sticks out in my mind right off the top of my head. I'm not too familiar with the other product you mentioned...

Josh California

Thanks, Josh - yes, it was Jan's story that made me wonder if we should try this on Lucy...we used Revolution on Lucy and our pomeranian, Gus, for years until we changed vets and the new vet wouldn't prescribe it but suggested Advantage, which we also used for several months. But now that Lucy is 'immune compromised' I am afraid to trust it and am in search of a natural/holistic method for pest control. There are many ideas on the web - I was hoping to get personal feedback on things that have worked for people on this board. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks, Lee, Lucy and family

Lee Florida

Hi Lee, I had the same questions last year that you are having now regarding the use of flea and tick products. I called a couple different holistic vets here in the area to get recomendations from them on what to use on my dog Tipsi. It was suggested to me to use an all natural spray that contained neem oil. It acts as a natural repellant and helps keep your dogs skin healthy. I used it on Tipsi last spring and summer and it definately helped. There were times when I would find a stray flea or two on her, but using this was better than no protection at all. Here is a link for the product.. Hope this helps. http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Ark-Naturals-Neem-Protect-Spray/121022.aspx Layla & Tipsi

Layla Raleigh

I will never put chemicals on or in Darcy again. Instead, I will bathe and comb her, keeping an eye out for fleas and ticks. Any flea/tick products I use on her will be only natural ones that come from the health food store. I'm not familiar with the Halo Dip, but unless it has pure and natural ingredients I wouldn't use it. Of course, every pet owner has to decide what's right for them. I will add this bit of info. I recently spoke with an oncologist radiation doctor who has two outside dogs. She told me that she let's her dogs be dogs, that she enjoys watching them romp and play together and said that they bring so much joy to her life. She said that she does not even give her dogs heartworm preventatives because she's not going to put chemicals in their bodies. This from a radiation doctor!

Karen NC

Heartworm injection was probably the cause of Madison's AIHA - she is now not allowed any flea/worming/immunisation ever again. My other dogs wont be getting it either. She is 8 so the vet said that she should be covered for life from the previous treatments. I always thought i was doing the right thing by giving my dogs all the reaquired immunisation and in the end it nearly killed my baby... Luckly she is doing really well and improving all the time. Just need her to loose a few kilos from the pred.... Samantha

Samantha Perth Australia

Thank you all for your responses...the neem oil is an interesting option...it's supposed to be really good for people skin, too. The Halo product Cloud Nine contains Tea Tree Oil, Rosemary Oil, Sage Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Peppermint Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Citronella Oil, Pine Needle Oil - my husband worked for Andi Brown many years ago, but we still use DermaDream on Lucy's hot spot elbows and nose and add DermaCoat to their food to help keep their coats shiny. What really bothers me is that the vet gave her approval of the commercial flea treatment - I guess they look at it from the point of view that there is such a small percentage of dogs that are affected that it helps more than it hurts - but in this case, I would have thought she would recommend a different - natural - treatment. Thanks, again, everybody...I look forward to hearing any other ideas, as well. Lee, Lucy and family

Lee Florida

I agree with Karen's comments. I have not given Tessa ny flea/tick/heartworm/vaccination - ANYTHING since her onset. We keep a close eye on her for fleas/ticks and have decided that the chance of an reaction is too great. Claudine and Tess

Claudine Burlington

Thank you so very much for those of you have read and are taking heed to my personal experience with the toxic product FRONTLINE. Choe's story has been posted on many threads here. He is most lucky to be alive. FRONTLINE IS POISON and poorly regulated by the EPA. The recent LA video report Josh posted a link for is very telling. Big Pharma is so protected and so powerful that you cannot challenge them/sue them. The vets seem to believe the Pharmas...could it be that there is a lot of profit to be made?? I really don't know the reason. But you typically don't find homeopthic vets recommending. Here is a link for website started many years ago by James Terbush when his pet almost died from Biospot. If you haven't read so far, please do and spread the word. You will see how prevelant adverse reactions are to these flea control products that are marketed as 'safe and gentle.' Despicable lies. Jan http://www.elversonpuzzle.com/biospotlettersv11.html

Jan PA

I suspect frontline was a contributing cause, along with vaccination and surgery, to Kent developing AIHA and i KNOW it contributed to his relapse and developing IMT. Frontline + Hearguard, and 48 hours later, IMT. Within 1 hour had symptoms of poisoning - spaced out, looked at me like i was trying to kill him, wobbling slightly, less energy...etc. I took him off both, and he remained flea and tick free. Careful of anything containing citrus oil of anysort. I recommend careful research of all oil ingredients, and then mixing your own cream or mister and spraying as appropriate, and bathing just more frequently. You can also easily make your own dog shampoo, or mix a few drops of essential oils with oatmeal baby shampoo - organic, no chemicals, etc. Christine and Angel Kent

Christine Fl

Organic and chemical free all the way from here on out. I think it's horible what the big pharmaceutical companies do and get away with on a daily basis. Did you know that the World Wide Web Consortium (the cream of the corporate world-over 500 members I think) is trying to limit the distribution and sharing of harmful publicity on major corps through sites such as these. They call regular people like us "cult followers" for sharing information and knowledge on certail topics (Frontline maybe being one) that can damage corporate profits. Just think...if there is growing concern over the safety of human vacines, then who knows what is in the canine equivalents. A lot of this information would probably never become public knowledge if it were not for sites such as these. We all know that the major media outlets would never run a story that would damage the pharmaceutical companies image. The corporate world runs the media anyway and they ultimately have the final say I'ld guess. Sorry for the rant again.....it just pisses me off that profits are more important than the health, safety, and welfare of our animals, or even us for that mater. These corporations should be held more accountable for their actions.

Jonathan

Be careful with neem. My wife has a severe allergy to it, and the potential for allergy in humans (and dogs?) does not seem well-publicized.

Brian Vermont

This thread was discussed between 26/03/2009 and 27/03/2009

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