Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Question on Flea and Heartworm Prevention

I'm wondering, what do you all use for flea and tick prevention, and also for heartworm prevention? We live in Louisiana, and always have trouble with fleas, ticks, and mosquitos that carry heartworms. I know we'll need to use something....what have you been advised to use? Are there natural alternatives? As always, thanks for the suggestions!! Sally and Mr. B

Sally Louisiana

Dr. Dodds told me to use Heartguard plain (not Plus) for heartworm prevention and no flea or tick prevention on Chloe. I will do just about anything to avoid a third relapse. Maybe someone has a great safe flea or tick preventative. Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

I give Ginger and the rest of my Goldens heartworm preventive meds every 45 days instead of the 30 this was recommended to me by my vet. No flea or tick prevention for Ginger and my other two get a daily low dose of a garlic tabs, also approved by my vet, and if they get fleas I spray them with apple cider vinegar. I too wish they would come up with a better safer product. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA

Hi Sally, Why don't you email Dr Dodds (hemopet@hotmail.com) and ask what she would recommend to provide the coverage your pet needs? We have used Frontline Plus with Henri. We have, also, used Sentinel. In Henri's case, we know the IMHA trigger, vaccines. In cases where the trigger is unknown, a more conservative treatment approach is warranted. Dr Dodds responds promptly. Best, Ella and Henri

Ella Seattle

I also use Frontline Plus for Beau. Flea/tick treatment is suspected to be the trigger in Beau's case, but the IM specialist assures me that Frontline Plus would be safe. For heartworm, I use Interceptor, which I understand is somewhat gentler than Heartgard Plus (which I use for my German Shepherd - who happens to have heartworm right now and is awaiting the injections). If the house needs to be treated, I use "Fleabusters" - which is essentially borate acid and very harmless, but effective. I also just picked up from Petco a spray of rosemary and cedar oil which is supposed to eliminate fleas found on the dogs. Haven't needed it yet. Sharon

Sharon PA

I agree on the plain Heartgard, if you can't find plain heartgard, use Inteceptor, thats what we use now, I can't find plain heartgard around here anymore, I think you can mail order it. Do not use heartgard plus. We think that may have been a trigger for Wylies relapse. Sharon, if I not mistaken I think there has been a lot of discussion here in the past the the safeness of frontline plus. It should come up in the archives. Laurie

Laurie CA

Hi again Sally, I don’t know much about this when it comes to AIHA (that does not mean I have nothing to say of course ;-), but years ago when I looked into stopping, I found most people were using Brewer’s Yeast for flea prevention as a healthy alternative. Since then I have been reading over the last few years about how a healthy raw diet of meat and bones and a healthy dog as a result prevents fleas in most dogs. This is what has happened in my home. We had fleas our house 8 - 10 years ago. I have not seen a flea in my house or on my dogs here in almost a decade now. Never since getting Stevie Ray (and before, but I can’t remember when anymore). I go to places and see dogs with fleas ALL the time (often 100’s at a time and plenty of fleas). Some of my breeder friends, who use the chemicals all the time, always have fleas in their home, I have seen them on me and my ex-wife was always being bitten. Not the dogs though (or me for some reason). I don’t use Brewer’s Yeast, or anything else and Stevie Ray, Joey and Jimmi have never touched flea meds, or Brewer’s Yeast. Dylan unfortunately, was poisoned with many things in her early days and I still suspect something in her early vaccinations and/or early toxicity (combined of course, she had worms when I rescued her) made her immune system more likely to attack itself now, way back then. Ticks I am not so certain about, although I have only seen them a few times on my dogs and not for many years either. Although there are plenty of ticks around and I have plenty of trees and bushes and crap around for them to hide in, I don’t see them. I don’t necessarily travel to the places where they are the most common and I have never seen one on Stevie Ray, Joey, or Jimmi, but many years ago we did see them on Jagger and Dylan (never bitten). Different neighborhoods mean different risk. For me, everything is about risk management. Given the risk in my environment, what do I need to do? Low risk or none=do nothing. This is why I vaccinate for Parvo and Distemper and nothing else. Everything else either has a treatment, or does not exist near me. Canine rabies does not exist in the USA either and I only give it in order to get through the border crossings. Diet is helping keep the parasites away. Risk is low as a result (from observation and experience) so I feed a healthy diet, which does take more effort than dropping flea meds on every few months. Also, flea and tick medication has been proven to last 3 and 4 times longer (and more) than in the instructions. Look around, or ask Dr. Dodds about this specifically. What they give you is the maximum rate your dog can tolerate, so you buy as much as you can (profit drives decisions, not what is best for you, or your dogs – proven fact, not just a cynic!). Internal memos and communications from knowledgeable people within these companies have intentionally been leaked to the public and this is well known to those looking to know the truth about what is healthy for our dogs. The very best of luck and continued improvments always for Mr. B. (Hugs too), Richard and the Band, featuring Dog Dylan

Richard Burnaby

Hi Sally, here is some stuff from Dr. Becker, the Veterinarian who presented Dr. Dodds' interview in Brigitte's thread. I have to be careful as too many links may get me banned from the site, as it did before (anti spam). These are the 3 most recent articles I could find on her site. http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/06/07/here-come-the-bugs.aspx http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/11/30/harmful-chemicals-in-flea-collars-and-sprays.aspx http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/08/12/natural-strategies-for-a-fleafree-itchfree-pet-this-summer_2620_.aspx I did not read them, as I have to go, but I have read others before these. Good Luck, Richard and you know who :-)

Richard Burnaby

Dr. Dodds suggested I use Interceptor for Murray after his IHMA crisis - every 45 days during heartworm season; typically early June - early December in Chicago. Whether or not you can not give it year-round depends on the climate/risk in your area. I recall Whole Dog Journal did an excellent article on heartworm disease and prevention several years ago if you can get access to their archives. Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

Hi, Not to steal Sally's thread, but I was wondering about what it means to avoid a relapse? What are all the things we should do to avoid one? I am trying to avoid a relapse for sure. So what is more likely to trigger AIHA/IMHA? Toxic chemicals, ticks, both together? Is preventing ticks and other parasites more important than toxic load? Is there a way to be sure either way? I really do have a lot of questions without answers at the moment. I know there are other triggers that we have less control over, for example cancer and infections (although good health and low toxicity are to help prevent these too), but what about the ones we do have a choice in? I know of nothing special in the days leading up to dylan's attack, no events, infections, injections, stings, bites, toxins, did not even go anywhere the day before or that day, I did not see her eat anything off the ground or sniff anything unusual. I intend to keep looking for answers even if there are none to be found today. Thanks, Richard & Dylan

Richard Burnaby

Richard, Steal away :) Your concerns about avoiding a relapse are exactly why I asked about the flea and tick meds, and monthly heartworm prevention. I'm so worried now about anything I give or use on Bentley (and my other two pups as well)....I certainly don't want to contribute to the anemia, or disrupt his healing process in any way! I'm going to research more on the flea/tick issue....I feel pretty good about the Heartworm solutions mentioned already. Going to ask my vet about the Interceptor tomorrow. And, like you, I'd love to list anything and everything to do/not do to avoid relapse....For Bentley, I now know he faced three "big" potential triggers within five weeks or so: tick bites, surgery, vaccines. YIKES! We'll probably never know which of them set his system off, but I sure do know what to watch for now, and some things to NOT do in the future. As always, thanks! Sally and Bentley

Sally Louisiana

This thread was discussed between 22/07/2011 and 23/07/2011

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