FLEAS, HEARTWORM AND DOGS: DAILY SUMMER DANGERS

The Weather in Georgia is finally warming up, so I don't have to pack my sweater when I go to work. This would be all in good but warm weather brings worries to Mom about mosquitos-those  biting annoying nasty creatures that like to give out gifts of heartworm.   Mom is always torn, torn between giving me heartworm and flea preventive and the possible health dangers from the products, whether pill or topical.  Notice I didn't include flea collar because that is a big no-no with Mom.   As I have posted to y'all before, Mom doesn't like collars on dogs, only harnesses, and, never,  never collars on us little guys.  When I was rescued from the Shelter, I had been given  a topical flea and heartworm (combined)  product.  Mom decided to stay with this same product as I never had any adverse reaction to it.  And, it works as stated. Mom has asked me to urge my readers to regularly Google the type of flea/heartworm product you are using to see if there are any reports of problems with the medication, with the manufacturer, reports by the FDA, reports of problems by other users, and just to get general user feedback.  Mom checks at least every 3 months, and always before getting a refill!  When it is time for a refill of your flea or heartworm medication, ask your vet if they have received any negative reviews or warnings from the  manufacturer.  Google the name of the medication and the words "recall" "opinion" "reviews" "FDA" "adverse".   Mom gives me the heartworm medication because of my long ago brother that did get heartworms and had to undergo treatment.  He survived!  She did not  want any other dog to experience this.  So, Mom remains torn between possible unknown health issues from these medications and concern that without them, I could get heartworm.  I live in the south, so we have longer warm seasons.  Stay safe my friends.  Enjoy summer, the outdoors, and the pool, but if the mosquitos are bad, go inside.
Take care,
Tuck the Law Dog
http://twitter.com/TuckTheLawDog      (Tweet me! I luv to meet new Twitter anipals)
http://wwwgeorgialaw.blogspot.com
http://criminallawyercherokeecobb.com   (where I work and am the "managing partner"

DOGS, MOSQUITOS & HEARTWORM

Well, mosquito season is here. It always worries Mom. She knows the dangers of Heart Worms in dogs first hand. A long time ago, in a far, far away state, her dog Deigo got heartworms. This was way before medications were popular to prevent heart worm in dogs, and actually in a state way up north where heartworm was rarely observed. Mom can remember that Deigo appeared to be short of breath so she brought her to the vet who did a test for heartworm–positive. Mom recalls that the vet gave Deigo medication and that when Deigo went to the bathroom, his poop was a “lovely shade of purple” for several days. Deigo survived the heartworm episode. The vet saved some of the heartworm and put them in a jar of formeldahyde–Mom didn’t want to keep it, but the Vet did so he could show other per parents just how intrusive heartworms can be. Mom gives me a heartworm preventative and continues to smack and swat every mosquito that comes near me. She bought a bottle of insecticide yard fogger last Sunday that says its supposed to kill mosquitos, nats, aphids, flies. But after reading throroughly the label warnings, she may take it back. She bought “Cutter Backyard Bug Control” which you hook up the bottle to the water hose and then spray your bushes and yard. She hasn’t tried it and doesn’t doubt that it could work–she is just scared that the residue would come in contact with me and make me sick. It does state to let the area sprayed dry for at least 24 hours before exposure to children and pets. Her other concern is that it states not to let this product come into contact with frogs, turtles, fish is it can kill them. We have lots of frogs living under our bushes and she doesn’t want to harm them, either. So now she is doubting as to whether this stuff should be used at all. She doesn’t put any lawn fertilizer on the yard because of the dangers of my licking my feet and ingesting the stuff. But then, of course, she constantly worries about possible long-term effects to my health as to the heartworm medications I take.
My Mom worries a lot–but she really loves me. Any comments or opinions on this Cutter product would be appreciated.

Take care, ya’ll,

Tuck the Law Dog

http://wwwgeorgialaw.blogspot.com/