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I'm taking a deeper look at the current flea/heartworm protection options for dogs. I've already read posts about it, but my questions are a little different.
I volunteer with a small foster-based dog rescue group in an area where both flea and heartworm protection are necessary except in the winter. Because the group has only a few dogs at a time and we don't know the size of the dogs that will be with us next, we have to buy a 3-6-month supply of flea and heartworm protection for each dog. The group isn't limited to any particular size or breed, but dogs that come to us tend to be medium to large, which increases the cost.
Like any rescue group, we have to be careful with money, but health and safety come first. Also, because we have to buy supplies for each dog, we need options that adopters will be comfortable continuing.
Personally, both flea and heartworm prevention drugs make me nervous because they aren't good for dogs and can have serious side effects. However, fleas and heartworms aren't good for dogs either. My approach is find out (if I can) which ones are the safest and to give them only as often as necessary (not year round in the climate I live in). I'm still reading to try to figure out which ones have the least risk and are still effective.
A challenge is in finding a combination that does what it needs to do and not more, to avoid unnecessarily overmedicating dogs.
Based on the above, which combinations would you prefer or avoid and why?
Heartgard (kills heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms) and Frontline Plus (kills fleas, flea eggs, and larvae, kills fleas that come in contact with the dog without the flea having to bite the dog first; kills but doesn't repel ticks; repels mosquitoes; kills chewing lice)
This option costs less than the option below, and it works for most needs. A disadvantage is that Frontline makes the dog's coat feel sort of sticky, at least for a few days.
Sentinel Spectrum (kills heartworms; treats and controls adult stages of tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms and whipworm; prevents flea eggs from hatching) and Nexgard (kills fleas, flea eggs, and larvae, but doesn't repel mosquitoes; kills but doesn't repel ticks)
This option is more expensive. Fleas have to bite the dog to be killed, and it doesn't repel mosquitoes. However, it provides protection against more types of worms, and it doesn't leave the dog's coat sticky.
Any other combinations?
Thanks for your help.
I volunteer with a small foster-based dog rescue group in an area where both flea and heartworm protection are necessary except in the winter. Because the group has only a few dogs at a time and we don't know the size of the dogs that will be with us next, we have to buy a 3-6-month supply of flea and heartworm protection for each dog. The group isn't limited to any particular size or breed, but dogs that come to us tend to be medium to large, which increases the cost.
Like any rescue group, we have to be careful with money, but health and safety come first. Also, because we have to buy supplies for each dog, we need options that adopters will be comfortable continuing.
Personally, both flea and heartworm prevention drugs make me nervous because they aren't good for dogs and can have serious side effects. However, fleas and heartworms aren't good for dogs either. My approach is find out (if I can) which ones are the safest and to give them only as often as necessary (not year round in the climate I live in). I'm still reading to try to figure out which ones have the least risk and are still effective.
A challenge is in finding a combination that does what it needs to do and not more, to avoid unnecessarily overmedicating dogs.
Based on the above, which combinations would you prefer or avoid and why?
Heartgard (kills heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms) and Frontline Plus (kills fleas, flea eggs, and larvae, kills fleas that come in contact with the dog without the flea having to bite the dog first; kills but doesn't repel ticks; repels mosquitoes; kills chewing lice)
This option costs less than the option below, and it works for most needs. A disadvantage is that Frontline makes the dog's coat feel sort of sticky, at least for a few days.
Sentinel Spectrum (kills heartworms; treats and controls adult stages of tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms and whipworm; prevents flea eggs from hatching) and Nexgard (kills fleas, flea eggs, and larvae, but doesn't repel mosquitoes; kills but doesn't repel ticks)
This option is more expensive. Fleas have to bite the dog to be killed, and it doesn't repel mosquitoes. However, it provides protection against more types of worms, and it doesn't leave the dog's coat sticky.
Any other combinations?
Thanks for your help.